By David "Los Gatos" Rosenberg
Kofi Owusu Aduonum has advised BoxingScene.com that former bantamweight champion Joseph Agbeko is set to arrive back home to spend quality time with his family. A large gathering and a hero's welcome is expected at Kotoka International Airport in Ghana. Agbeko's fans will be waiting in crowds to show the boxer their support for last Saturday's controversial majority decision loss to Abner Mares in Las Vegas.
The IBF issued an immediate rematch order. Agbeko's team is discussing a possible rematch date of December 3 on Showtime. The conduct of referee Russell Mora was instrumental in the IBF's decision. He warned Mares, several times in the fight, over lows blows, but he never took away a point and scored one of those low blows as a knockdown when Agbeko went down in pain in the eleventh round.
"I am extremely happy about the decision for a rematch. It is an opportunity to prove that I am the real champion. I thank God the whole world saw the injustice and the calculated attempt to deny me of my title. I pray for fair officiating, and I will give it my best shot. It will be a tough battle but I will do my best to prove a point," Agbeko said.
“Don King protested from day one when referee Mora's name surfaced as the man to officiate the bout because he is of Mexican native. I suspected foul play at the weigh-in session. Against normal practice, they allowed Mares to weigh ahead of me the champion and they told me I had exceeded the required weight, which I knew was false. Mares and his team did everything possible for him to emerge as the winner because he is the first boxer [Golden Boy Promotions] has trained through the ranks to that level."