Joseph Agbeko

Joseph Agbeko
Statistics
Nickname(s) King Kong
Rated at Bantamweight
Super bantamweight
Height 5 ft 5 12 in (166 cm)
Reach 65 12 in (166 cm)
Nationality Ghanaian
Born (1980-03-22) 22 March 1980
Accra, Ghana
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 35
Wins 30
Wins by KO 23
Losses 5

Joseph Agbeko (born 22 March 1980) is a Ghanaian professional boxer and former IBF bantamweight champion.

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.

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 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.[1]

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. The fight has been rescheduled for August 13 in Las Vegas.[2]

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 many blows to the belt and below, he did not retaliate in kind.

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

30 Wins (23 Knockouts), 5 Losses, 0 Draws[3]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Win 30–5 Philippines Juanito Rubillar TKO 4 (10), 1:31 2015-05-30 United States El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
Loss 29–5 Cuba Guillermo Rigondeaux UD 12 2013-12-07 United States Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey For WBA (Super), WBO and The Ring Super Bantamweight titles.
Win 29–4 Colombia Luis Melendez UD 12 2013-03-22 Ghana Accra Sports Stadium, Accra Won IBO Bantamweight title.
Loss 28–4 Mexico Abner Mares UD 12 2011-12-03 United States Honda Center, Anaheim, California For IBF and WBC Silver Bantamweight titles.
Loss 28–3 Mexico Abner Mares MD 12 2011-08-13 United States Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada Lost IBF and WBC Silver Bantamweight titles.
Win 28–2 Colombia Yonnhy Pérez UD 12 2010-12-11 United States Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington Won IBF Bantamweight title.
Loss 27–2 Colombia Yonnhy Pérez UD 12 2009-10-31 United States Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada Lost IBF Bantamweight title.
Win 27–1 Armenia Vic Darchinyan UD 12 2009-07-11 United States BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida Retained IBF Bantamweight title.
Win 26–1 Nicaragua William Gonzalez MD 12 2008-12-11 United States Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey Retained IBF Bantamweight title.
Win 25–1 Nicaragua Luis Alberto Pérez RTD 7 (12), 3:00 2007-09-29 United States Arco Arena, Sacramento, California Won IBF Bantamweight title.
Win 24–1 United States Fidencio Reyes TKO 4 (8), 1:23 2007-08-09 United States Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win 23–1 Ghana Baba Nsor TKO 4 2007-03-23 Ghana Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, Accra
Win 22–1 Ghana Sumaila Badu UD 12 2004-10-29 Ghana Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Loss 21–1 Ukraine Wladimir Sidorenko MD 12 2004-05-18 Germany Hansehalle, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein
Win 21–0 South Africa Cedric Conway TKO 6 (10) 2003-06-13 Ghana Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Win 20–0 Benin Charlemagne Agbotomey TKO 4 (10), 1:02 2002-10-04 Ghana Globe Cinema, Accra
Win 19–0 Romania Sabin Bornei TKO 6 (12), 1:30 2002-05-10 United Kingdom Britannia Hotel, Millwall, London Won WBF Bantamweight title.
Win 18–0 Uganda Michael Kizza TKO 2 (12) 2001-09-08 Ghana Kaneshie Complex, Accra
Win 17–0 Cameroon Faustin Rostand TKO 2 (6) 2001-07-27 Ghana Kaneshie Complex, Accra

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.'[4]

References

  1. LaBate, Chris (December 11, 2011). "Joseph Agbeko Decisions Yonnhy Perez, Reclaims Title". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  2. "Article". usatoday.com.
  3. Joseph Agbeko's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-05.
  4. "Agbeko enstooled Warrior Chief in Volta Region", My Joy Online(Ghana), December 28, 2010

External links

Achievements
Preceded by
Luis Alberto Perez
IBF Bantamweight Champion
September 29, 2007 October 31, 2009
Succeeded by
Yonnhy Pérez
Preceded by
Yonnhy Pérez
IBF Bantamweight Champion
December 11, 2010 August 14, 2011
Succeeded by
Abner Mares
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