For Ishmael Davis, a shot at the coveted British super-welterweight title could be just around the corner—provided he emerges from this weekend’s showdown with Caoimhin Agyarko with his momentum intact.
Davis and Agyarko are set to collide this Saturday at Windsor Park in Belfast, as part of the undercard for the highly anticipated rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan. The bout promises fireworks, blending raw aggression with tactical nous in a matchup that could have significant implications for the domestic 154lb landscape.
Davis, 13-2 (6 KOs), enters the ring with valuable experience at the fringes of world level. Though he suffered a sixth-round stoppage defeat to the hard-hitting Serhii Bohachuk, the Leeds fighter took that bout on extremely short notice—just as he did in his previous assignment against Josh Kelly.
Despite back-to-back setbacks, ‘The Black Panther’ remains firmly in the British title picture. In fact, he had already been mandated to face Sam Gilley for the vacant Lonsdale Belt before the opportunity to face the unbeaten Agyarko, 17-0 (7 KOs), arose.
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Regardless of the outcome in Belfast, Davis is expected to have a significant fight lined up later this year or in early 2026.
“I spoke to Tom Dallas from Matchroom,” Davis told Boxing News. “He said, ‘Look, you can fight Sam Gilley first, but you’ll have to wait. Or you can fight Caoimhin, and then Sam Gilley.’ I never say no to anything. I just need to do the job at hand and then I can focus on Sam Gilley if that [fight] comes.”
For now, Davis has his sights locked on Agyarko—a talented fighter who recently revived his career with a points win over Ryan Kelly after a period of inactivity and frustration. Once considered a rising star, Agyarko’s progress had stalled due to a lack of meaningful opportunities, but his return to form earlier this year has reignited interest in his career.
Yet Davis remains undeterred, confident that Agyarko poses little danger based on their previous sparring sessions.
“I sparred him and gave him hell,” Davis said. “This is a fact—one thing I never do is lie. My trainer got a call saying, ‘Can you tell Ish to just calm down so we can get through the rounds?’
“Caoimhin was complaining, so in the second spar we just had a little move around. I think we sparred three or four rounds. But I know all about Caoimhin, and I just want to prove it on the night.”
With his trademark confidence and big ambitions, Davis is aiming to turn a tough run of form into a career-defining opportunity. A victory on Saturday could not only put his name back in lights but also secure a direct path to the British title—something he believes is well within his grasp.
