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Bloodied Kelly battles past Agyarko to retain title
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BBC Sport - Sport
Briton Josh Kelly was forced to dig deep to retain his IBF light-middleweight world title, surviving a spirited late comeback from Belfast's Caoimhin Agyarko to win a narrow points decision in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
But Kelly stood firm through the championship rounds to secure victory, with the judges scoring the contest 114-113, 115-112 and 115-112.
Fighting on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's heavyweight comeback against Kristian Prenga, Sunderland's Kelly claimed his 21st professional victory.
Instead, despite a brave second-half comeback, he suffered the first defeat of his professional career in his 30th contest.
Also on the card, WBO super-middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz laboured to an underwhelming points win over Simon Zachenhuber.