Joseph Agbeko
- Bantamweight
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.
Retirement
Agbeko announced his retirement from professional boxing on 14 August 2024, having not fought for four years.[5]
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 | ![]() | TKO | 5 (10), 1:07 | 26 Dec 2020 | ![]() | |
42 | Win | 37–5 | ![]() | TKO | 9 (12), 2:30 | 2 Nov 2019 | ![]() | Retained WBO Africa bantamweight title |
41 | Win | 36–5 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 19 Apr 2019 | ![]() | Retained WBO Africa bantamweight title |
40 | Win | 35–5 | ![]() | TKO | 10 (12) | 8 Sep 2018 | ![]() | Retained WBO Africa bantamweight title |
39 | Win | 34–5 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 30 Mar 2018 | ![]() | Won vacant WBO Africa bantamweight title |
38 | Win | 33–5 | ![]() | TKO | 10 (10) | 3 Nov 2017 | ![]() | |
37 | Win | 32–5 | ![]() | TKO | 7 (8) | 14 Oct 2017 | ![]() | |
36 | Win | 31–5 | ![]() | UD | 10 | 28 Oct 2016 | ![]() | |
35 | Win | 30–5 | ![]() | TKO | 4 (10), 1:31 | 30 May 2015 | ![]() | |
34 | Loss | 29–5 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 7 Dec 2013 | ![]() | For WBA (Super), WBO, and The Ring super bantamweight titles |
33 | Win | 29–4 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 22 Mar 2013 | ![]() | Won vacant IBO bantamweight title |
32 | Loss | 28–4 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 3 Dec 2011 | ![]() | For WBC Silver and IBF bantamweight titles |
31 | Loss | 28–3 | ![]() | MD | 12 | 13 Aug 2011 | ![]() | Lost IBF bantamweight title; For WBC Silver bantamweight title |
30 | Win | 28–2 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 11 Dec 2010 | ![]() | Won IBF bantamweight title |
29 | Loss | 27–2 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 31 Oct 2009 | ![]() | Lost IBF bantamweight title |
28 | Win | 27–1 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 11 Jul 2009 | ![]() | Retained IBF bantamweight title |
27 | Win | 26–1 | ![]() | MD | 12 | 11 Dec 2008 | ![]() | Retained IBF bantamweight title |
26 | Win | 25–1 | ![]() | RTD | 7 (12), 3:00 | 29 Sep 2007 | ![]() | Won IBF bantamweight title |
25 | Win | 24–1 | ![]() | TKO | 4 (8), 1:23 | 9 Aug 2007 | ![]() | |
24 | Win | 23–1 | ![]() | TKO | 4 | 23 Mar 2007 | ![]() | |
23 | Win | 22–1 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 29 Oct 2004 | ![]() | Won vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title |
22 | Loss | 21–1 | ![]() | MD | 12 | 18 May 2004 | ![]() | For EBA bantamweight title |
21 | Win | 21–0 | ![]() | TKO | 6 (10) | 13 Jun 2003 | ![]() | |
20 | Win | 20–0 | ![]() | TKO | 4 (10), 1:02 | 4 Oct 2002 | ![]() | |
19 | Win | 19–0 | ![]() | TKO | 6 (12), 1:30 | 10 May 2002 | ![]() | Retained WBF (Federation) bantamweight title |
18 | Win | 18–0 | ![]() | TKO | 2 (12) | 8 Sep 2001 | ![]() | Won vacant WBF (Federation) bantamweight title |
17 | Win | 17–0 | ![]() | TKO | 2 (6) | 27 Jul 2001 | ![]() | |
16 | Win | 16–0 | ![]() | KO | 2 | 6 Jun 2001 | ![]() | |
15 | Win | 15–0 | ![]() | KO | 2 | 4 May 2001 | ![]() | |
14 | Win | 14–0 | ![]() | KO | 4 | 24 Mar 2001 | ![]() | |
13 | Win | 13–0 | ![]() | KO | 2 | 20 Mar 2001 | ![]() | |
12 | Win | 12–0 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 14 Nov 2000 | ![]() | Retained African bantamweight title |
11 | Win | 11–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 | 7 Oct 2000 | ![]() | |
10 | Win | 10–0 | ![]() | KO | 2 | 29 Aug 2000 | ![]() | |
9 | Win | 9–0 | ![]() | TKO | 2 (12), 0:52 | 5 May 2000 | ![]() | Won vacant African bantamweight title |
8 | Win | 8–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 (10) | 16 Oct 1999 | ![]() | |
7 | Win | 7–0 | ![]() | KO | 7 | 19 Sep 1999 | ![]() | |
6 | Win | 6–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 (12) | 30 Jul 1999 | ![]() | Won vacant Ghanaian bantamweight title |
5 | Win | 5–0 | ![]() | PTS | 6 | 4 Jun 1999 | ![]() | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | ![]() | TKO | 2 | 1 May 1999 | ![]() | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | ![]() | KO | 8 | 4 Apr 1999 | ![]() | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() | KO | 2 | 13 Mar 1999 | ![]() | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() | KO | 1 (6) | 16 Dec 1998 | ![]() |
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]
References
- ^ "Joseph Agbeko vs. Yonnhy Perez - BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ LaBate, Chris (December 11, 2011). "Joseph Agbeko Decisions Yonnhy Perez, Reclaims Title". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
- ^ "Article". usatoday.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-01.
- ^ Keefer, Case (2011-08-14). "Controversy erupts as Abner Mares wins bantamweight belt from Joseph Agbeko". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "Former IBF champ Joseph Agbeko officially retires from boxing". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Agbeko enstooled Warrior Chief in Volta Region" Archived 2010-12-30 at the Wayback Machine, My Joy Online(Ghana), December 28, 2010
External links
- Boxing record for Joseph Agbeko from BoxRec (registration required)
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 2010 – 13 August 2011 | Succeeded by |