This weekend will see both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua return to the ring ahead of their titanic heavyweight clash, but it will also see Caoimhin Agyarko potentially make history.

The Belfast fighter will feature on the Anthony Joshua card as the British Olympic Gold Medallist faces Albanian Kristian Prengo in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in his first fight since the fatal car crash he was involved in in Nigeria, which killed two of his close friends.

But before that bout, Caoimhin Agyarko could make history as a win for him will see him become the first Black Irish world champion boxer. Born in London to an Irish mother and Ghanaian father, Agyarko grew up in Belfast, starting boxing at the Holy Trinity Boxing Club.

He became a professional in 2018, and he’ll now have a chance to become a world champion when he faces  IBF light-middleweight champion Josh Kelly in Saudi Arabia.

‘I’m 30 this year, started boxing at seven years old, and have had the dream of becoming the first black Irish world champion,’ Agyarko tells BBC Sport NI. ‘I’ve already made history by becoming the first black Irishman to fight for a world title but that is not my plan.

‘My plan is to become the first black Irish world champion and lead the way for the next generation of fighters and people from different backgrounds.’

Tommy McCarthy was previously Ireland’s first black European Champion after he beat Bilal Laggoune in 2020, but Agyarko wants to go one step further.

‘It’s been 22 years of hard work, dedication, setbacks, ups and downs, disappointments and big wins. But none of that matters – it’s all on Saturday, and this is everything I’ve dreamt of since I was a kid,’ Agyarko said.

‘I’m a regular kid from west Belfast, from an Irish-Ghanaian background. I’m nothing special, but just want to leave a legacy the next generation can aspire to.’

His opponent Kelly represented Team GB in the 2016 Rio Olympics, but Agyarko is hoping to overwhelm the Olympian in the ring this Saturday.

‘It’s not just fitness, but explosiveness when I’m putting my punches together,” Agyarko said. ‘Not throwing singles, I think he will struggle to deal with it, so I will need to let my hands go and have the power, speed and footwork.

‘Some have said we have similar styles in that we are both reactive fighters, that I can use my head movement and footwork to get me out of trouble. I’m not going to play that game with him. I’m going to steamroll him, and I’m looking forward to it.’

How to watch Anthony Joshua fight

You can catch the fight this Saturday, July 25, and both fighters are expected in the ring around 11pm Irish Time with Agyarko on before them.

The card is available on pay-per-view on DAZN, and will set viewers back €19.99.