| Joseph Agbeko | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Joseph Agbeko |
| Nickname(s) | King Kong |
| Rated at | Bantamweight |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Born | 22 March 1980 Accra, Ghana |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 32 |
| Wins | 28 |
| Wins by KO | 22 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Joseph Agbeko (born March 22, 1980 in Accra, Ghana) is a professional boxer with a record of 28-2 (22 KO). The Ring Magazine currently rates Agbeko at number three in the bantamweight division.[1]
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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 Columbian challenger Yonnhy Pérez.
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 split-decision to advance to the finals and a showdown with Agbeko.[2]
"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[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 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.
| 28 Wins (22 Knockouts), 4 Defeats, 0 Draws[4] | |||||||
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 28-4 | Abner Mares | UD | 12 | 2011-12-03 | Honda Center, Anaheim, California | Retained IBF and WBC Silver bantamweight titles. |
| Loss | 28-3 | Abner Mares | MD | 12 | 2011-08-13 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | Lost IBF and WBC Silver bantamweight titles. |
| Win | 28-2 | Yonnhy Pérez | UD | 12 | 2010-12-11 | Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington | won IBF bantamweight title |
| Loss | 27-2 | Yonnhy Pérez | UD | 12 | 2009-10-31 | Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | lost IBF bantamweight title |
| Win | 27-1 | Vic Darchinyan | UD | 12 | 2009-07-11 | BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida | retained IBF bantamweight title |
| Win | 26-1 | William Gonzalez | MD | 12 | 2008-12-11 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey | retained IBF bantamweight title |
| Win | 25-1 | Luis Alberto Pérez | RTD | 7 (12), 3:00 | 2007-09-29 | Arco Arena, Sacramento, California | won IBF bantamweight title |
| Win | 24-1 | Fidencio Reyes | TKO | 4 (8), 1:23 | 2007-08-09 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Win | 23-1 | Baba Nsor | TKO | 4 | 2007-03-23 | Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, Accra | |
| Win | 22-1 | Sumaila Badu | UD | 12 | 2004-10-29 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | |
| Loss | 21-1 | Wladimir Sidorenko | MD | 12 | 2004-05-18 | Hansehalle, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein | |
| Win | 21-0 | Cedric Conway | TKO | 6 (10) | 2003-06-13 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | |
| Win | 20-0 | Charlemagne Agbotomey | TKO | 4 (10), 1:02 | 2002-10-04 | Globe Cinema, Accra | |
| Win | 19-0 | Sabin Bornei | UK | 6 (12), 1:30 | 2002-05-10 | Britannia Hotel, Millwall, London | Won WBF bantamweight title |
| Win | 18-0 | Michael Kizza | TKO | 2 (12) | 2001-09-08 | Kaneshie Complex, Accra | |
| Win | 17-0 | Faustin Rostand | TKO | 2 (6) | 2001-07-27 | Kaneshie Complex, Accra | |
| 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 |
In 2010, to honour 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]