Adams (26-4, 16 KOs) quickly got another opportunity to catapult himself in a stacked division when the IBF ordered Adams to fight Bakhram Murtazaliev in a title eliminator once Agyarko moved on. The title Adams may eventually have his eye on is currently held by Josh Kelly (18-1-1, 9 KOs), who won the IBF belt courtesy of a majority-decision win against Murtazaliev (23-1, 17 KOs) in January.

England’s Kelly has been linked to a title unification clash against WBC champion Sebastian Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs), but nothing has been made after it was revealed that negotiations were ongoing.

Another high-stakes fight in the division takes place Saturday night, when WBA and WBO champion Xander Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) defends his titles against Jaron Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs, 1 NC) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Their 12-round fight will be the main event of a DAZN Pay-Per-View/DAZN Ultimate show.

Adams is certainly a highly interested observer in how things will play out.

“I don’t think this is too much, too soon for Zayas,” Adams told The Ring. “He’s been doing this long enough. He’s gonna get even better with time, but he’s elusive, moves well and throws great combinations. He has a fighter’s chance to pull off the upset. He’s not going to just lay down. I just don’t think it's going to happen in this fight.

“Boots is crafty, explosive, has the IQ, wins exchanges, but so far, it looks like he doesn’t like to fight guys that move a lot. That’s why I believe this fight is going to go the distance, but Ennis should edge it out. He knows how to win rounds and make the adjustments required to win the rounds as needed.”

Oddsmakers certainly believe Ennis has all the skills needed to comfortably get the nod. According to DraftKings, Ennis is a 5-1 favorite.

Fundora would likely be an equally heavy favorite if a clash against Kelly becomes formal.

“I’m going to be well-positioned,” Adams said. “Fundora is getting better with each fight, and the only way he loses against Kelly is if he makes some huge mistakes. Kelly is going to have to stay on the outside to outbox and out-maneuver Fundora, but it’s going to be entirely too complicated for him to do so. It will be just a matter of time for Fundora at that point because Kelly is not a big puncher. The fight could go the distance if Kelly doesn’t fully commit and moves around, but I see Fundora getting the stoppage.”

Adams considers Fundora the best 154-pounder in the world and understands he may have to wait for his crack at a crown if the winner of Fundora-Kelly and Zayas-Ennis immediately moves forward toward an undisputed title fight.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what Fundora continues to do, and I would love to fight him right after if he ends up with the IBF title,” Adams said. “If he’s the irresistible force, I’m the immovable object. I think we can have a fight and a night to remember because of our styles. We’d be in front of each other all night, and it would be a matter of time before it was stopped.”

Adams is ranked No. 2 by the WBC, No. 3 by the IBF and WBO, and No. 8 by The Ring. The 36-year-old contender from Los Angeles last fought September 13 and scored a unanimous points win in a rematch against Ukraine’s Serhii Bohachuk (27-4, 24 KOs), whom Adams stopped in the eighth round in March 2021.