Joseph Agbeko

Last updated
Joseph Agbeko
Born (1980-03-22) 22 March 1980 (age 44)
Nationality Ghanaian
Other namesKing Kong
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Reach166 cm (65 in)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights43
Wins38
Wins by KO28
Losses5

Joseph Agbeko (born 22 March 1980) is a Ghanaian professional boxer. He is a two-time former bantamweight world champion, having held the IBF title twice between 2007 and 2011. Additionally he held the Commonwealth bantamweight title from 2004 to 2006; the IBO bantamweight title in 2013; and has challenged once for a super bantamweight world title in 2013.

Contents

Professional career

On September 29, 2007, he dethroned Luis Alberto Perez to become the new IBF bantamweight titleholder. Agbeko was inactive for 1 year, 2 months and 11 days before defending his title on December 11, 2008. In a fight that had been repeatedly postponed, he defeated William Gonzalez by majority decision. On July 11, 2009, Agbeko successfully defended his IBF bantamweight title by scoring a unanimous decision win over former two division champion Vic Darchinyan. On Halloween night, October 31, 2009, Agbeko lost his IBF title by 12 round unanimous decision to 20-0 Colombian challenger Yonnhy Pérez. [1]

Perez vs. Agbeko II

On December 11, 2010, Agbeko was given the chance to regain his IBF title when he took on Yonnhy Pérez in the semi-finals of the Showtime Bantamweight tournament, which was televised live from The Battle at the Boat series at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. Rather than brawling as he had done in his first fight with Pérez, Agbeko chose to use his boxing skills and stiff jab to cruise to a unanimous decision victory, with the judges scoring it 116–112, 117-111 and 115–113. Also on the card was Abner Mares, who defeated Vic Darchinyan via controversial split-decision to advance to the finals and a showdown with Agbeko. [2]

Agbeko vs. Mares

"King Kong" Agbeko was scheduled to take on Abner Mares in the Bantamweight Tournament Final: Winner Takes All on Saturday, April 23, on Showtime. However, Agbeko pulled out of the fight just days prior, citing an injury, and the fight was rescheduled for August 13 in Las Vegas. [3]

The fight ensued as scheduled on the 13th. However, the focal point of the fight became referee Russell Mora who repeatedly warned Mares for low blows without taking a point. To Agbeko's credit, despite at least 23 blows to the belt and below, he did not retaliate in kind. [4]

Post fight, Jim Gray continued Showtime's lambasting of Mora in an interview where he plainly showed the crucial call that turned the fight, a low blow in the 11th leading to a knockdown.

In all there were two knockdowns. The first coming early could have been called a slip but a punch was landed. The second was the result of what was definitely a low blow. It is possible that without the knockdown, Mares would not have won the fight. The scoring read 115–111, 115-111 and 113-113.

Retirement

Agbeko announced his retirement from professional boxing on 14 August 2024, having not fought for four years. [5]

Professional boxing record

43 fights38 wins5 losses
By knockout280
By decision105
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
43Win38–5 Flag of Ghana.svg Albert CommeyTKO5 (10), 1:0726 Dec 2020 Flag of Ghana.svg Idrowhyt Event Centre, Accra, Ghana
42Win37–5 Flag of Kenya.svg Gabriel OchiengTKO9 (12), 2:302 Nov 2019 Flag of Ghana.svg Aborigenes Beach Resort, Keta, GhanaRetained WBO Africa bantamweight title
41Win36–5 Flag of Tanzania.svg Hashimu ZuberiUD1219 Apr 2019 Flag of Ghana.svg Aborigenes Beach Resort, Keta, GhanaRetained WBO Africa bantamweight title
40Win35–5 Flag of Ghana.svg Ekow WilsonTKO10 (12)8 Sep 2018 Flag of Ghana.svg Woezer Hotel, Ho, GhanaRetained WBO Africa bantamweight title
39Win34–5 Flag of Uganda.svg Frank KiwalabyeUD1230 Mar 2018 Flag of Ghana.svg Mission Ga School Park, Aflao, GhanaWon vacant WBO Africa bantamweight title
38Win33–5 Flag of Ghana.svg Abdul Malik JabirTKO10 (10)3 Nov 2017 Flag of Ghana.svg Aborigines Beach Resort, Keta, Ghana
37Win32–5 Flag of Ghana.svg Martin AhiadekeyTKO7 (8)14 Oct 2017 Flag of Ghana.svg City Engineers Yard, Accra, Ghana
36Win31–5 Flag of Tanzania.svg Haji JumaUD1028 Oct 2016 Flag of Ghana.svg Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana
35Win30–5 Flag of the Philippines.svg Juanito Rubillar TKO4 (10), 1:3130 May 2015 Flag of the United States.svg County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, US
34Loss29–5 Flag of Cuba.svg Guillermo Rigondeaux UD127 Dec 2013 Flag of the United States.svg Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USFor WBA (Super), WBO, and The Ring super bantamweight titles
33Win29–4 Flag of Colombia.svg Luis MelendezUD1222 Mar 2013 Flag of Ghana.svg Sports Stadium, Accra, GhanaWon vacant IBO bantamweight title
32Loss28–4 Flag of Mexico.svg Abner Mares UD123 Dec 2011 Flag of the United States.svg Honda Center, Anaheim, California, USFor WBC Silver and IBF bantamweight titles
31Loss28–3 Flag of Mexico.svg Abner Mares MD12 13 Aug 2011 Flag of the United States.svg The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, USLost IBF bantamweight title;
For WBC Silver bantamweight title
30Win28–2 Flag of Colombia.svg Yonnhy Pérez UD12 11 Dec 2010 Flag of the United States.svg Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, USWon IBF bantamweight title
29Loss27–2 Flag of Colombia.svg Yonnhy Pérez UD1231 Oct 2009 Flag of the United States.svg Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, USLost IBF bantamweight title
28Win27–1 Flag of Armenia.svg Vic Darchinyan UD1211 Jul 2009 Flag of the United States.svg BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, USRetained IBF bantamweight title
27Win26–1 Flag of Nicaragua.svg William GonzalezMD1211 Dec 2008 Flag of the United States.svg Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, USRetained IBF bantamweight title
26Win25–1 Flag of Nicaragua.svg Luis Alberto Pérez RTD7 (12), 3:0029 Sep 2007 Flag of the United States.svg ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, USWon IBF bantamweight title
25Win24–1 Flag of the United States.svg Fidencio ReyesTKO4 (8), 1:239 Aug 2007 Flag of the United States.svg The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, US
24Win23–1 Flag of Ghana.svg Baba NsorTKO423 Mar 2007 Flag of Ghana.svg Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
23Win22–1 Flag of Ghana.svg Sumaila BaduUD1229 Oct 2004 Flag of Ghana.svg Sports Stadium, Accra, GhanaWon vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title
22Loss21–1 Flag of Ukraine.svg Volodymyr Sydorenko MD1218 May 2004 Flag of Germany.svg Hansehalle, Lübeck, GermanyFor EBA bantamweight title
21Win21–0 Flag of South Africa.svg Cedric ConwayTKO6 (10)13 Jun 2003 Flag of Ghana.svg Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana
20Win20–0 Flag of Benin.svg Charlemagne AgbotomeyTKO4 (10), 1:024 Oct 2002 Flag of Ghana.svg Globe Cinema, Accra, Ghana
19Win19–0 Flag of Romania.svg Sabin Bornei TKO6 (12), 1:3010 May 2002 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Britannia International Hotel, London, EnglandRetained WBF (Federation) bantamweight title
18Win18–0 Flag of Uganda.svg Michael KizzaTKO2 (12)8 Sep 2001 Flag of Ghana.svg Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, GhanaWon vacant WBF (Federation) bantamweight title
17Win17–0 Flag of Cameroon.svg Faustin RostandTKO2 (6)27 Jul 2001 Flag of Ghana.svg Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
16Win16–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Ganiyu OlafimihanKO26 Jun 2001 Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana
15Win15–0 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Moses KennedyKO24 May 2001 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Ivory Coast
14Win14–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Mike OrlandoKO424 Mar 2001 Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
13Win13–0 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Chris BandelKO220 Mar 2001 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Ivory Coast
12Win12–0 Flag of South Africa.svg Johannes MaisaUD1214 Nov 2000 Flag of South Africa.svg Carnival City, Brakpan, South AfricaRetained African bantamweight title
11Win11–0 Flag of Benin.svg Arouma YessoufouKO17 Oct 2000 Flag of Benin.svg Benin
10Win10–0 Flag of Togo.svg Laurent ZakpoKO229 Aug 2000 Flag of Benin.svg Benin
9Win9–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Ola BalougonTKO2 (12), 0:525 May 2000 Flag of Ghana.svg Accra, GhanaWon vacant African bantamweight title
8Win8–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Friday Fatunji FelixKO1 (10)16 Oct 1999 Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
7Win7–0 Flag of Senegal.svg Freddy MutalaKO719 Sep 1999 Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal
6Win6–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Abdul Malik JabirKO1 (12)30 Jul 1999 Flag of Ghana.svg Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, GhanaWon vacant Ghanaian bantamweight title
5Win5–0 Flag of Benin.svg Patrice OwaiPTS64 Jun 1999 Flag of Benin.svg Benin
4Win4–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Roland IgbafeiTKO21 May 1999 Flag of Ghana.svg Accra, Ghana
3Win3–0 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Ray MedozaKO84 Apr 1999 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Ivory Coast
2Win2–0 Flag of Togo.svg Laurent ZakpoKO213 Mar 1999 Flag of Togo.svg Togo
1Win1–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Agaitor YaoKO1 (6)16 Dec 1998 Flag of Ghana.svg Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana

Honors

In 2010, to honor Joseph's exploits in the sport of boxing, the town of Sogakope in the Volta Region of Ghana enstooled him as a warrior chief. His enstoolment name was Togbe Kaletor I, which means 'Brave Warrior.' [6]

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References

  1. "Joseph Agbeko vs. Yonnhy Perez - BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  2. LaBate, Chris (December 11, 2011). "Joseph Agbeko Decisions Yonnhy Perez, Reclaims Title". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  3. "Article". usatoday.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-01.
  4. Keefer, Case (2011-08-14). "Controversy erupts as Abner Mares wins bantamweight belt from Joseph Agbeko". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  5. "Former IBF champ Joseph Agbeko officially retires from boxing". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  6. "Agbeko enstooled Warrior Chief in Volta Region" Archived 2010-12-30 at the Wayback Machine , My Joy Online(Ghana), December 28, 2010
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Steve Dotse
Ghanaian bantamweight champion
30 July 1999 – May 2000
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Anyetei Laryea
ABU bantamweight champion
5 May 2000 – September 2001
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Friday Fatunji Felix
Vacant
Title last held by
Steve Molitor
Commonwealth
bantamweight champion

29 October 2004 – June 2006
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Tshifhiwa Munyai
Vacant
Title last held by
Duke Micah
WBO Africa
bantamweight champion

30 March 2018 – present
Incumbent
Minor world boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Steve Molitor
WBF (Federation)
bantamweight champion

8 September 2001 – June 2002
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Lubabalo Msuthu
Vacant
Title last held by
Anselmo Moreno
IBO bantamweight champion
22 March 2013 – December 2013
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Juan Carlos Payano
Major world boxing titles
Preceded by IBF bantamweight champion
29 September 2007 – October 31, 2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Yonnhy Pérez
IBF bantamweight champion
11 December 201013 August 2011
Succeeded by