Costello ‘disgust’ as Kelly loses title bid
Ryan Kelly…defeat and despair in Sheffield for Birmingham light-middle
IN the aftermath of yet another highly contentious loss, Ryan Kelly and those around him were too numb with bitter disappointment to muster the energy for anger.
On Matchroom’s big bill at Sheffield’s Canon Medical Arena last night, Kelly dropped a wafer-thin majority decision to unbeaten Irishman Caoimhin Agyarko. With the WBA Continental light-middleweight title on the line, one judge had the 10 rounder a 95-95 draw, while the others favoured Agyarko 96-94 and 97-94.
You have to feel for Chelmsley Wood’s Kelly who fights under the ring name “Ruthless” but may now consider changing the slogan to “Luckless”.
The 31-year-old dropped a debatable split decision to Kieron Conway for the Commonwealth middleweight belt last time out, had to settle for a 10 round draw with Gerome Warburton and looked dreadfully unlucky not to be declared winner over future British champ Brad Pauls.
Now this…
“His attitude this morning is ‘what’s the point?’,” said trainer John Costello, “and I share that with him. How many times do I have to build Ryan up just for him to be left disappointed? And Ryan is bitterly disappointed – he knew he won that fight, there was not a doubt. Even the man from the WBA holding the belt looked disgusted.
“And I have to ask myself if I want to continue in this sport.
“After Ryan lost to Kieron Conway I never shouted about it because I knew it was close. I thought the Brad Pauls decision was outrageous. Last night was horrendous.
“Agyarko landed two or three good right hands – two or three good right hands don’t win you a fight. He was broken up by Ryan’s jab – both his eyes were nearly closed, he was cut, his nose was bashed…”
Agyarko, a late replacement for original opponent Ishmael Davis, certainly suffered the most facial wear-and-tear following a gruelling encounter. The catalogue of injuries included a gashed left eye and on social media, Agyarko described his post-fight appearance as “Elephant Man”.
The fight was, in truth, a close encounter. History has told us when things are close, they don’t go Kelly’s way.
“It’s just disgusting,” Costello lamented. “Ryan just can’t believe it – what do we have to do? Ryan would take a rematch in a heartbeat. In the cold light of day, Agyarko is not going to want to do that fight again.”
Had Kelly been declared winner over a man ranked in the world top five, he would’ve been in touching distance of super-fights.
Instead, Ryan must plug away at domestic level and hope he one day gets the rub of the green.
His record is now 19 wins, six losses and one draw, while Agyarko registered his 17th straight victory.