Oto Joseph

Last updated
Oto Joseph
Born (1992-11-25) November 25, 1992 (age 31)
Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria [1]
NationalityNigerian
Other namesJoe Boy
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Boxing record
Total fights21
Wins19
Wins by KO12
Losses2

Oto Joseph (born November 25, 1992) is a Nigerian professional boxer who held the African lightweight title from two times 2017 to 2020 and from 2022 till date

Contents

. As an amateur, he represented his country at the 2013 World Championships and 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Early years

In his youth, Joseph had an interest in both football and taekwondo. [2] He then switched to boxing after watching his older brother train. [2] Although his parents were originally against the decision, he won a gold medal at the National Sports Festival in 2012. [2] He also represented his country at the 2013 World Amateur Championships and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Professional career

Joseph made his professional debut on March 15, 2015, defeating Kehinde Bhadmus with a second-round technical knockout (TKO) in Lagos. After defeating compatriot Fatai Nurudeen in October, he beat him in a rematch five months later for the Nigerian lightweight title via unanimous decision (UD). This was the first time he headlined a professional card (GOtv Boxing Night 7). He also defeated Hogan Jimoh Jr., son of Nigerian boxing legend Hogan Jimoh, stopping him in the first round at GOtv Boxing Night 6. [3]

He received a shot at the vacant WABU lightweight title on March 26, 2017, facing Ghanaian veteran Mettle Ayitey at the Indoor Sports Hall of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan. He defeated Ayitey with a first-round TKO in the main event of GOtv Boxing Night 11 for the title. [4] Joseph was scheduled to face South African Dillon Youle for the inaugural Commonwealth Africa lightweight title, but Youle was replaced by undefeated Malawian prospect Israel Kammwamba due to injury. [5] He defeated Kammwamba by unanimous decision at GOtv Boxing Night 12 in Lagos for his third title belt. [6] [7]

On December 26, 2017, Joseph stopped Egyptian fighter Ahmed Abdulrahim for the African lightweight title at GOtv Boxing Night 13 in Lagos. [8] He became the first African lightweight champion from Nigeria since two-time Olympian Christopher Ossai was stripped of the title in 1993. [9] In his first successful title defense, he defeated Ghanaian contender Nathanael Nukpe by unanimous decision seven months later at GOtv Boxing Night 15 in the Indoor Sports Hall of Adamasingba Stadium. [10]

In his first fight of 2019 he defended his African crown against Success Tetteh at GOtv Boxing Night 18 in Ibadan on April 21. [11] He dominated the Ghanaian challenger in a short fight; the referee stopped it in the second round in Joseph's favor after Tetteh was visibly struggling to keep his balance. [12] [13]

Joseph was set to defend the African title against WABU lightweight champion Rilwan Oladosu in Lagos on October 12 in a matchup tagged the "Fight of the Decade" in Nigeria, but Joseph had to pull out after sustaining a shoulder injury in training. [14] The mandatory title defense was pushed back to December, but Joseph did not recover in time and was unable to fight Oladosu. In January 2020, the African Boxing Union (ABU) announced it had stripped him of his lightweight title belt due to his inability to defend it in the stipulated time frame. [15] Joseph claimed to have never received any correspondence from the ABU concerning the decision. [15]

Professional boxing record

19 fights18 wins1 loss
By knockout90
By decision91
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
19Win18–1 Flag of Ghana.svg Abdul Malik JabirRTD1 (6), 3:00Dec 24, 2021 Flag of Ghana.svg Bukom Boxing Arena, Accra, Ghana
18Loss17–1 Flag of Russia.svg Mark Urvanov UD10Sep 11, 2021 Flag of Russia.svg RCC Boxing Academy, Yekaterinburg, Russia
17Win17–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Anama DotseTKO3 (10), 1:27March 7, 2021 Flag of Ghana.svg AMA Basketball Court, Accra, Ghana
16Win16–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Tope AgboolaKO3 (8), 2:15July 21, 2019 Flag of Nigeria.svg National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
15Win15–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Success TettehKO2 (12), 0:32April 21, 2019 Flag of Nigeria.svg Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, NigeriaRetained African lightweight title
14Win14–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Hammed GaniyuUD8Dec 28, 2018 Flag of Nigeria.svg Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Nigeria
13Win13–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Emmanuel MensahTKO5 (10)Oct 14, 2018 Flag of Nigeria.svg Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
12Win12–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Nathanael NukpeUD12Jul 29, 2018 Flag of Nigeria.svg Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan, NigeriaRetained African lightweight title
11Win11–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Prince NwoyeUD10Apr 14, 2018 Flag of Nigeria.svg National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
10Win10–0 Flag of Egypt.svg Ahmed AbdulrahimTKO5 (12)Dec 26, 2017 Flag of Nigeria.svg Landmark Events Centre, Lagos, NigeriaWon vacant African lightweight title
9Win9–0 Flag of Malawi.svg Israel KammwambaUD10Oct 1, 2017 Flag of Nigeria.svg National Stadium, Lagos, NigeriaWon inaugural Commonwealth Africa lightweight title
8Win8–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Mettle AyiteyKO1 (12), 2:10Mar 26, 2017 Flag of Nigeria.svg Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, NigeriaWon vacant WABU lightweight title
7Win7–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Fatai NurudeenKO4 (8)Dec 26, 2016 Flag of Nigeria.svg National Stadium, Lagos, NigeriaRetained Nigerian lightweight title [9]
6Win6–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Richard AmenfuUD8Oct 2, 2016 Flag of Nigeria.svg National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
5Win5–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Fatai NurudeenUD12May 1, 2016 Flag of Nigeria.svg National Stadium, Lagos, NigeriaWon Nigerian lightweight title [16]
4Win4–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Hogan Jimoh Jr.TKO1 (6)Mar 25, 2016 Flag of Nigeria.svg National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
3Win3–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Fatai NurudeenUD8Oct 25, 2015 Flag of Nigeria.svg National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
2Win2–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Ola AdebakinUD6Aug 23, 2015 Flag of Nigeria.svg The Elysium at Piccadilly Suites, Lagos, Nigeria
1Win1–0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Kehinde BhadmusTKO2 (6)Mar 15, 2015 Flag of Nigeria.svg National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria

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References

  1. "GOtv Boxing Night 12: Joe Boy Eyes History with Commonwealth Title Bid". This Day. September 30, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Okada Rider-Turned Boxer, Joseph: No Nigerian Pro Is a Threat To Me". completesports.com. January 21, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  3. "Joe Boy vs Real One: Nigeria's Most Anticipated Boxing Clash". This Day. March 9, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  4. Agberebi, James (March 27, 2017). "Babatunde Claims GOtv 2 million naira Jackpot As Fijabi, Joe Boy Win". completesports.com. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  5. "GOtv Boxing Night 12: Joe Boy gets new opponent for Commonwealth title". theeagleonline.com.ng. September 18, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  6. "12th Gotv Boxing :It was my toughest bout, Oto admits". The Nation. October 10, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  7. Sangala, Tom (October 3, 2017). "Israel Kam'mwamba loses in Nigeria". times.mw. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  8. "GOTv Boxing Night 13: Joe Boy, Fijabi win ABU titles". Vanguard. December 28, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Otto Joseph eyes African Lightweight title". The Nation. January 17, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  10. "Joseph retains ABU title at Gotv boxing". punchng.com. July 31, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  11. Umeh, Azu (April 24, 2019). "BOXING: Nigeria's 'Joe Boy' Successfully Defends Belt To Retain ABU Title". busybuddiesng.com. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  12. Obiajuru, Nomso (April 22, 2019). "Nigeria's Oto Joseph knocks out Ghanaian opponent Tetteh to retain ABU title". legit.ng. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  13. "Oto Joeboy Joseph Vs Success Brave Warrior Tetteh 12 Rounds ABU Lightweight Title Defence". Youtube. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  14. Lawal, Akeem (December 24, 2019). "ABU may strip Oto Joseph of African title". The Nation . Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  15. 1 2 Akpodonor, Gowon (January 15, 2020). "Nigeria's Oto Joe Boy stripped of ABU title". The Guardian (Nigeria) . Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  16. "Top Nigerian boxers duel in Lagos competition". Premium Times. April 14, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Lunga Stimela
African lightweight champion
December 26, 2017 – January 2020
Stripped
Vacant