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By Cliff Rold - Making only his second trip to Las Vegas, 29-year old IBF Bantamweight titlist Joseph Agbeko (27-1, 22 KO) of Accra, Ghana has returned with something anyone wants in the desert oasis.
Agbeko is hitting the strip already on a hot streak.
Come Saturday night, he’ll need the cards to keep dealing his way. He knows what it’s like when that doesn’t happen. A professional since 1998, Agbeko toiled towards his first title shot in 2004, a chance at then-WBA titlist Wladimir Sidorenko in Germany. Agbeko’s solid performance was rewarded with a controversial majority decision against him.
Opportunities, and patience, have since have worked out in his favor.
Inactive from late 2004 until early 2007, Agbeko posted a pair of wins in the latter year and got a shot at IBF titlist Luis Perez, battering the Nicaraguan into a seventh round corner retirement. More inactivity waited as it took over a year for Agbeko to make his first title defense in December of 2008. With two defenses now under his belt, Agbeko makes his third start in less than a year on the cusp of serious stardom.
And Bantamweight remains on the cusp of becoming one of the sport’s most realized divisions.
Agbeko joins WBA titlist Anselmo Moreno (27-1-1, 9 KO) and WBC titlist Hozumi Hasegawa (27-2, 11 KO) in as strong a trio of beltholders as can be found in the sport. Throw in veteran three division titlist, and current WBO beltholder Fernando Montiel (39-2-2, 29 KO) coming off a controversial outing against Alejandro Valdez and undefeated young contenders like Abner Mares (19-0, 12 KO), Nehomar Cermeno (18-0, 10 KO), and Yonnhy Perez (19-0, 14 KO) for good measure. [details]
Agbeko is hitting the strip already on a hot streak.
Come Saturday night, he’ll need the cards to keep dealing his way. He knows what it’s like when that doesn’t happen. A professional since 1998, Agbeko toiled towards his first title shot in 2004, a chance at then-WBA titlist Wladimir Sidorenko in Germany. Agbeko’s solid performance was rewarded with a controversial majority decision against him.
Opportunities, and patience, have since have worked out in his favor.
Inactive from late 2004 until early 2007, Agbeko posted a pair of wins in the latter year and got a shot at IBF titlist Luis Perez, battering the Nicaraguan into a seventh round corner retirement. More inactivity waited as it took over a year for Agbeko to make his first title defense in December of 2008. With two defenses now under his belt, Agbeko makes his third start in less than a year on the cusp of serious stardom.
And Bantamweight remains on the cusp of becoming one of the sport’s most realized divisions.
Agbeko joins WBA titlist Anselmo Moreno (27-1-1, 9 KO) and WBC titlist Hozumi Hasegawa (27-2, 11 KO) in as strong a trio of beltholders as can be found in the sport. Throw in veteran three division titlist, and current WBO beltholder Fernando Montiel (39-2-2, 29 KO) coming off a controversial outing against Alejandro Valdez and undefeated young contenders like Abner Mares (19-0, 12 KO), Nehomar Cermeno (18-0, 10 KO), and Yonnhy Perez (19-0, 14 KO) for good measure. [details]
Knew that was comin.
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