Caoimhín Agyarko Eases Past Mexican Juan Carlos Rubio in Nottingham

Caoimhín Agyarko showed a large Belfast cohort what he is all about with a one sided victory in Nottingham tonight.

The Belfast middleweight outpointed Juan Carlos Rubio on an Irish influenced show defending his WBA International title in the process.

It was more solid than explosive against the late replacement and a first ever southpaw foe, with ‘Black Thunder’ learning on the job while still manage to impress.

In fact, he won ever round on two judges scorecards making a relatively easy night for himself.

Chief support to Mick Conlan’s challenge of WBA featherweight titlist Leigh Wood, Agyarko had the platform to impress thousands of Irish fans at the Motorpoint Arena and took his opportunity with both gloves.

Rubio was something of a late-notice opponent for Agyarko who was initially being lined up to face former two-time world champion Hassan N’Dam before the Cameroonian veteran allegedly priced himself out of the bout. The Mexican, however, offered some boxes to tick. A southpaw who had been built quite competitively on the local circuit, Rubio was stopped in three by light middleweight contender Charles Conwell last time out but still looked to be on paper a solid foe and an incremental step-up for Noe Larios last time out in Liverpool.

As is frequently if not always the case, Agyarko was not satisfied with his performance in the preceding fight which was also his Matchroom debut. He will may be dissapointed his knockout streak was ended but he can’t be overly upset after such a one side victory.

 

Having entered to a warm reception, Agyarko quickly got to work, punching with Rubio and getting the better of the opening exchanges.

While it was still somewhat competitive, the gap between the fighters was already becoming apparent in the second, with Agyarko able to land his shots from mid-range as Rubio looked to set up something big. The following rounds followed a similar pattern with Rubio proving durable and akward but non troubling. 

Once the Irish fighter got to grips with the southpaw stance he started to land some big right hands. They came particularly effective in the second half of the fight but his corner called for more combinations.  

25-year-old followed orders but to his credit the Mexican never looked like being stopped and made the final bell. 

Holy Trinity Former Elite champion and Irish international defeating ‘El Terri’ a Guadalajara native, who is pro since 17, by a scorecard of 100-90, 100-90, 98-92.

The win sees Agyarko improve to 11(7)-0 while the outgunned Rubio drops to 18(9)-1(1).

The talk throughout much of fight week, and indeed most of Agyarko’s career under Matchroom, was of a Belfast homecoming by the end of the year. A Stateside jaunt may first be in the offing but, considering the reception tonight, a return to the Titanic City, perhaps against N’Dam, is now firmly on the agenda.