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.

Joseph Agbeko
Born (1980-03-22) 22 March 1980 (age 44)
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

Professional career

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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

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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

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"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

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

Professional boxing record

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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   Albert Commey TKO 5 (10), 1:07 26 Dec 2020   Idrowhyt Event Centre, Accra, Ghana
42 Win 37–5   Gabriel Ochieng TKO 9 (12), 2:30 2 Nov 2019   Aborigenes Beach Resort, Keta, Ghana Retained WBO Africa bantamweight title
41 Win 36–5   Hashimu Zuberi UD 12 19 Apr 2019   Aborigenes Beach Resort, Keta, Ghana Retained WBO Africa bantamweight title
40 Win 35–5   Ekow Wilson TKO 10 (12) 8 Sep 2018   Woezer Hotel, Ho, Ghana Retained WBO Africa bantamweight title
39 Win 34–5   Frank Kiwalabye UD 12 30 Mar 2018   Mission Ga School Park, Aflao, Ghana Won vacant WBO Africa bantamweight title
38 Win 33–5   Abdul Malik Jabir TKO 10 (10) 3 Nov 2017   Aborigines Beach Resort, Keta, Ghana
37 Win 32–5   Martin Ahiadekey TKO 7 (8) 14 Oct 2017   City Engineers Yard, Accra, Ghana
36 Win 31–5   Haji Juma UD 10 28 Oct 2016   Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana
35 Win 30–5   Juanito Rubillar TKO 4 (10), 1:31 30 May 2015   County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, US
34 Loss 29–5   Guillermo Rigondeaux UD 12 7 Dec 2013   Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US For WBA (Super), WBO, and The Ring super bantamweight titles
33 Win 29–4   Luis Melendez UD 12 22 Mar 2013   Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana Won vacant IBO bantamweight title
32 Loss 28–4   Abner Mares UD 12 3 Dec 2011   Honda Center, Anaheim, California, US For WBC Silver and IBF bantamweight titles
31 Loss 28–3   Abner Mares MD 12 13 Aug 2011   The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, US Lost IBF bantamweight title;
For WBC Silver bantamweight title
30 Win 28–2   Yonnhy Pérez UD 12 11 Dec 2010   Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, US Won IBF bantamweight title
29 Loss 27–2   Yonnhy Pérez UD 12 31 Oct 2009   Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, US Lost IBF bantamweight title
28 Win 27–1   Vic Darchinyan UD 12 11 Jul 2009   BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, US Retained IBF bantamweight title
27 Win 26–1   William Gonzalez MD 12 11 Dec 2008   Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, US Retained IBF bantamweight title
26 Win 25–1   Luis Alberto Pérez RTD 7 (12), 3:00 29 Sep 2007   ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, US Won IBF bantamweight title
25 Win 24–1   Fidencio Reyes TKO 4 (8), 1:23 9 Aug 2007   The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, US
24 Win 23–1   Baba Nsor TKO 4 23 Mar 2007   Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
23 Win 22–1   Sumaila Badu UD 12 29 Oct 2004   Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana Won vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title
22 Loss 21–1   Volodymyr Sydorenko MD 12 18 May 2004   Hansehalle, Lübeck, Germany For EBA bantamweight title
21 Win 21–0   Cedric Conway TKO 6 (10) 13 Jun 2003   Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana
20 Win 20–0   Charlemagne Agbotomey TKO 4 (10), 1:02 4 Oct 2002   Globe Cinema, Accra, Ghana
19 Win 19–0   Sabin Bornei TKO 6 (12), 1:30 10 May 2002   Britannia International Hotel, London, England Retained WBF (Federation) bantamweight title
18 Win 18–0   Michael Kizza TKO 2 (12) 8 Sep 2001   Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana Won vacant WBF (Federation) bantamweight title
17 Win 17–0   Faustin Rostand TKO 2 (6) 27 Jul 2001   Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
16 Win 16–0   Ganiyu Olafimihan KO 2 6 Jun 2001   Ghana
15 Win 15–0   Moses Kennedy KO 2 4 May 2001   Ivory Coast
14 Win 14–0   Mike Orlando KO 4 24 Mar 2001   Nigeria
13 Win 13–0   Chris Bandel KO 2 20 Mar 2001   Ivory Coast
12 Win 12–0   Johannes Maisa UD 12 14 Nov 2000   Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa Retained African bantamweight title
11 Win 11–0   Arouma Yessoufou KO 1 7 Oct 2000   Benin
10 Win 10–0   Laurent Zakpo KO 2 29 Aug 2000   Benin
9 Win 9–0   Ola Balougon TKO 2 (12), 0:52 5 May 2000   Accra, Ghana Won vacant African bantamweight title
8 Win 8–0   Friday Fatunji Felix KO 1 (10) 16 Oct 1999   Nigeria
7 Win 7–0   Freddy Mutala KO 7 19 Sep 1999   Senegal
6 Win 6–0   Abdul Malik Jabir KO 1 (12) 30 Jul 1999   Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana Won vacant Ghanaian bantamweight title
5 Win 5–0   Patrice Owai PTS 6 4 Jun 1999   Benin
4 Win 4–0   Roland Igbafei TKO 2 1 May 1999   Accra, Ghana
3 Win 3–0   Ray Medoza KO 8 4 Apr 1999   Ivory Coast
2 Win 2–0   Laurent Zakpo KO 2 13 Mar 1999   Togo
1 Win 1–0   Agaitor Yao KO 1 (6) 16 Dec 1998   Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana

Honors

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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

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  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
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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