Joseph Agbeko
Born (1980-03-22) 22 March 1980
Accra, Ghana
NationalityGhanaian
Other namesKing Kong
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Reach166 cm (65 in)
StanceOrthodox
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.

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.

Professional boxing record

43 fights 38 wins 5 losses
By knockout 28 0
By decision 10 5
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
43 Win 38–5 Ghana Albert Commey TKO 5 (10), 1:07 26 Dec 2020 Ghana Idrowhyt Event Centre, Accra, Ghana
42 Win 37–5 Kenya Gabriel Ochieng TKO 9 (12), 2:30 2 Nov 2019 Ghana Aborigenes Beach Resort, Keta, Ghana Retained WBO Africa bantamweight title
41 Win 36–5 Tanzania Hashimu Zuberi UD 12 19 Apr 2019 Ghana Aborigenes Beach Resort, Keta, Ghana Retained WBO Africa bantamweight title
40 Win 35–5 Ghana Ekow Wilson TKO 10 (12) 8 Sep 2018 Ghana Woezer Hotel, Ho, Ghana Retained WBO Africa bantamweight title
39 Win 34–5 Uganda Frank Kiwalabye UD 12 30 Mar 2018 Ghana Mission Ga School Park, Aflao, Ghana Won vacant WBO Africa bantamweight title
38 Win 33–5 Ghana Abdul Malik Jabir TKO 10 (10) 3 Nov 2017 Ghana Aborigines Beach Resort, Keta, Ghana
37 Win 32–5 Ghana Martin Ahiadekey TKO 7 (8) 14 Oct 2017 Ghana City Engineers Yard, Accra, Ghana
36 Win 31–5 Tanzania Haji Juma UD 10 28 Oct 2016 Ghana Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana
35 Win 30–5 Philippines Juanito Rubillar TKO 4 (10), 1:31 30 May 2015 United States County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, US
34 Loss 29–5 Cuba Guillermo Rigondeaux UD 12 7 Dec 2013 United States Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US For WBA (Super), WBO, and The Ring super bantamweight titles
33 Win 29–4 Colombia Luis Melendez UD 12 22 Mar 2013 Ghana Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana Won vacant IBO bantamweight title
32 Loss 28–4 Mexico Abner Mares UD 12 3 Dec 2011 United States Honda Center, Anaheim, California, US For WBC Silver and IBF bantamweight titles
31 Loss 28–3 Mexico Abner Mares MD 12 13 Aug 2011 United States The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, US Lost IBF bantamweight title;
For WBC Silver bantamweight title
30 Win 28–2 Colombia Yonnhy Pérez UD 12 11 Dec 2010 United States Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, US Won IBF bantamweight title
29 Loss 27–2 Colombia Yonnhy Pérez UD 12 31 Oct 2009 United States Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, US Lost IBF bantamweight title
28 Win 27–1 Armenia Vic Darchinyan UD 12 11 Jul 2009 United States BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, US Retained IBF bantamweight title
27 Win 26–1 Nicaragua William Gonzalez MD 12 11 Dec 2008 United States Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, US Retained IBF bantamweight title
26 Win 25–1 Nicaragua Luis Alberto Pérez RTD 7 (12), 3:00 29 Sep 2007 United States ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, US Won IBF bantamweight title
25 Win 24–1 United States Fidencio Reyes TKO 4 (8), 1:23 9 Aug 2007 United States The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, US
24 Win 23–1 Ghana Baba Nsor TKO 4 23 Mar 2007 Ghana Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
23 Win 22–1 Ghana Sumaila Badu UD 12 29 Oct 2004 Ghana Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana Won vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title
22 Loss 21–1 Ukraine Volodymyr Sydorenko MD 12 18 May 2004 Germany Hansehalle, Lübeck, Germany For EBA bantamweight title
21 Win 21–0 South Africa Cedric Conway TKO 6 (10) 13 Jun 2003 Ghana Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana
20 Win 20–0 Benin Charlemagne Agbotomey TKO 4 (10), 1:02 4 Oct 2002 Ghana Globe Cinema, Accra, Ghana
19 Win 19–0 Romania Sabin Bornei TKO 6 (12), 1:30 10 May 2002 United Kingdom Britannia International Hotel, London, England Retained WBF (Federation) bantamweight title
18 Win 18–0 Uganda Michael Kizza TKO 2 (12) 8 Sep 2001 Ghana Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana Won vacant WBF (Federation) bantamweight title
17 Win 17–0 Cameroon Faustin Rostand TKO 2 (6) 27 Jul 2001 Ghana Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
16 Win 16–0 Nigeria Ganiyu Olafimihan KO 2 6 Jun 2001 Ghana Ghana
15 Win 15–0 Ivory Coast Moses Kennedy KO 2 4 May 2001 Ivory Coast Ivory Coast
14 Win 14–0 Nigeria Mike Orlando KO 4 24 Mar 2001 Nigeria Nigeria
13 Win 13–0 Ivory Coast Chris Bandel KO 2 20 Mar 2001 Ivory Coast Ivory Coast
12 Win 12–0 South Africa Johannes Maisa UD 12 14 Nov 2000 South Africa Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa Retained African bantamweight title
11 Win 11–0 Benin Arouma Yessoufou KO 1 7 Oct 2000 Benin Benin
10 Win 10–0 Togo Laurent Zakpo KO 2 29 Aug 2000 Benin Benin
9 Win 9–0 Ghana Ola Balougon TKO 2 (12), 0:52 5 May 2000 Ghana Accra, Ghana Won vacant African bantamweight title
8 Win 8–0 Nigeria Friday Fatunji Felix KO 1 (10) 16 Oct 1999 Nigeria Nigeria
7 Win 7–0 Senegal Freddy Mutala KO 7 19 Sep 1999 Senegal Senegal
6 Win 6–0 Ghana Abdul Malik Jabir KO 1 (12) 30 Jul 1999 Ghana Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana Won vacant Ghanaian bantamweight title
5 Win 5–0 Benin Patrice Owai PTS 6 4 Jun 1999 Benin Benin
4 Win 4–0 Ghana Roland Igbafei TKO 2 1 May 1999 Ghana Accra, Ghana
3 Win 3–0 Ivory Coast Ray Medoza KO 8 4 Apr 1999 Ivory Coast Ivory Coast
2 Win 2–0 Togo Laurent Zakpo KO 2 13 Mar 1999 Togo Togo
1 Win 1–0 Ghana Agaitor Yao KO 1 (6) 16 Dec 1998 Ghana 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.'[5]

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. ↑ "Agbeko enstooled Warrior Chief in Volta Region" Archived 2010-12-30 at the Wayback Machine, My Joy Online(Ghana), December 28, 2010
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