Belfast's Caoimhin Agyarko says he will need to produce the "performance of my life" when he faces Brandon Adams in an IBF light-middleweight final eliminator in California on Saturday, 18 April.
Belfast's Caoimhin Agyarko says he will need to produce the "performance of my life" when he faces Brandon Adams in an IBF light-middleweight final eliminator in California on Saturday, 18 April.
An agreement was struck between the respective teams before a purse bid was required, with the fight set to take place at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, east of Los Angeles, hosted by Adams promoter DMG.
The winner will move on to fight for the title which is currently held by Russia's Bakhram Murtazaliev, who defends against Sunderland's Josh Kelly in Newcastle on 31 January.
Agyarko improved his perfect record to 18 wins from as many contests with a narrow points victory over Ishmael Davis at Windsor Park on 13 September, 2025, the same day 36-year-old Adams improved to 26-4 with a points victory over Serhii Bohachuk in Las Vegas.
"I took a coupe of risks last year, stayed active and it's paid off ," 29-year-old Agyarko told BBC Sport NI.
"I've got my opportunity for a world title eliminator and this is where the hard work starts. It's going to have to be the performance of my life going into his back yard against a really good opponent.
"He's coming off a really good win against Bohachuk who he has beaten twice, been in with [then WBC middleweight champion Jermall] Charlo, so he is high-level and I don't think his age will play into it at all.
"I may be younger and fresher, but I know what I'm up against in a tough fighter with experience."
'Sometimes you have to earn your stripes on the road'
With Adams hailing from the greater Los Angeles area, Agyarko will certainly be the away fighter, but says he is ready for the challenge.
His most recent win over Davis saw him suffer a badly swollen eye and a 12th-round knockdown he disputed at the time and still does, but feels the boxes ticked to find a way home on that occasion will stand to him against Adams.
"I want to fight at home as much as possible, but sometimes you have to go on the road and earn your stripes and now it's time to conquer America," he added.
"It's a really tough fight but any fight at this level will be tough. I'm looking forward to the challenge as this is the type of fight I've been screaming for and what I need to get me to a world title.
"The experience [against Davies] I gained: going 12 rounds for the first time, a bit of controversy with the eye and the knockdown that wasn't, so I ticked a lot of boxes in that fight.
"I had to bite down on my gumshield and show a bit of heart, so I showed every aspect what I've got and the ability to come through a bit of adversity. That has prepared me well for this fight."
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