Davis and Agyarko promise Windsor Park fireworks

IBF welterweight world title: Lewis Crocker v Paddy Donovan

Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Date: Saturday, 13 September

Ishmael Davis and Caoimhin Agyarko have not agreed on much in the build-up to their light-middleweight contest on Saturday, but both predict they will produce the “fight of the night” at Windsor Park.

They meet on the chief support slot of the IBF welterweight title fight between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan, with the winner in line to take a significant step forward.

At Thursday’s final press conference, they engaged in a prolonged bout of verbal sparring ahead of Saturday’s real battle with Belfast’s Agyarko confident he will prove too much for the 30-year-old Yorkshireman.

“I think I’m a hungrier fighter,” said the 28-year-old, who is unbeaten in 17 fights.

“I’m not sure he’s in it for titles but in it to make a few quid and see where he can go in the sport.

“He’s stepped up against two great fighters and I give him all the props in the world for it but I’m the hungrier fighter, faster fighter, more explosive, faster, fitter and you will see that.”

Those step-ups for Davies saw him suffer defeats by Josh Kelly and Serhii Bohachuk, which saw his record slide to 13-2.

Against Kelly at Wembley Stadium last year, a late rally from Davis was not enough as he fell to a narrow points defeat, but riled by Agyarko’s comments, he insists he will attack from the off on Saturday.

“I’m going to start early with you,” he said.

“Josh Kelly, I started late and everybody knows that – but that was a different level. You are not on my level and I will show you.

Saturday’s undercard will see a rematch between Belfast’s Tyrone McKenna (24-6-1) and Waterford’s Dylan Moran (19-3) at welterweight.

Their first meeting in December 2024 was all action from the opening bell with McKenna stung early, only to drop Moran before the end of the first round and finish it in the second.

Belfast’s McKenna has indicated this will be his final fight with Moran seeking revenge to get his career back on track.

Ruadhan Farrell (7-1-1) puts his Irish super-bantamweight title on the line against Matthew Boreland (5-0) with Belfast’s Farrell seeking to maintain a fine run of form against his Coleraine opponent.

Elsewhere, there are debuts for Newtownabbey light-middleweight Kyle Smith, Jim Donovan – cousin of Paddy who fights in the main event – and Liverpool’s former Mixed Martial Arts star Molly McCann.