The IBF has ordered Caoimhin Agyarko to face Bakhram Murtazaliev in a reshuffled final eliminator at junior middleweight after Brandon Adams was forced out of last weekend’s bout.
The change comes after Adams collapsed in his Las Vegas hotel room on the morning before weigh-in with chest pain and was taken to the hospital, resulting in the cancellation of the scheduled most important event at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan. The fight had been set to choose the mandatory challenger for IBF titleholder Josh Kelly, however the withdrawal left the slot open.
The sanctioning body has now moved to maintain the method lively reasonably than revisit the identical matchup. Murtazaliev, a former titlist known for his power at 154, has already informed the IBF he’ll take the fight. Agyarko has been given a deadline to just accept the order.
That substitute shifts the issue of the task. Adams brought experience and sturdiness, but Murtazaliev is a unique form of opponent, with a more aggressive style and a track record against higher-level opposition. Taking this fight means a tougher night for Agyarko.
The choice facing Agyarko is straightforward. Accept the fight and move directly right into a high-risk eliminator with a compulsory position on the road, or turn it down and risk losing ground within the IBF rankings. There isn’t any guarantee that an identical opportunity will return in the identical form.
Adams was reported to be stable after receiving treatment, and there was early discussion about revisiting the unique matchup once he recovers. The IBF has already moved forward without it, and the following step now will depend on Agyarko’s response.
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Last Updated on 2026/04/16 at 3:39 PM