Stories and facts

Joseph Agbeko is a Ghanaian professional boxer celebrated for his success in the bantamweight division.

He is a two-time IBF bantamweight world champion, reigning between 2007 and 2011, and also held the Commonwealth bantamweight title from 2004 to 2006 as well as the IBO bantamweight crown in 2013.

In the same year, he challenged for a world title at super bantamweight. Agbeko first won the IBF title on 29 September 2007 when he defeated Luis Alberto Pérez.

After more than a year away from the ring, he successfully defended the belt on 11 December 2008 with a majority-decision victory over William Gonzalez and retained it again on 11 July 2009 by beating Vic Darchinyan.

His reign came to an end on 31 October 2009 when he lost a unanimous decision to Yonnhy Pérez, but he avenged this loss on 11 December 2010, reclaiming the IBF title by outpointing Pérez in a widely watched Showtime Bantamweight Tournament bout.

His fight with Abner Mares, postponed from April to August 2011 due to injury, ended in controversy as Mares won a majority decision despite repeated low blows that went largely unpunished by the referee.

Agbeko announced his retirement from professional boxing on 14 August 2024 after a 43-fight career that saw him record 38 wins, including 28 by knockout.

In recognition of his achievements, he was enstooled in 2010 as a warrior chief by the people of Sogakope in Ghana’s Volta Region under the title Togbe Kaletor I, meaning “Brave Warrior.”

Explore the life of Joseph Agbeko below.