Joseph Agbeko isn’t quite ready to hang up the gloves.
Agbeko, 43, hasn’t lost the passion for the sport, despite having boxed professionally for over 23 years. And despite having already won two world titles, the Ghana native has set his sights on winning another, even at his advanced age.
“I will continue to fight once I can still take a punch without any problems,” Agbeko told BoxingAfrica.com. “I don’t think the time is now for me to call it quits.
“Once the body is responding positively in the ring, I will keep going until the time comes for me to put an end to my career.”
That might sound over-ambitious yet Agbeko is the number-one contender to WBO World Bantamweight Champion John Riel Casimero. He has held the WBO Africa bantamweight title since beating Frank Kiwalabye in 2018 in Ghana.
Agbeko has defended his Africa title three times yet still hasn’t received a call to fight Casimero.
“I have been the topmost contender for the WBO belt since 2019 and I keep wondering why I haven’t been given the shot yet,” said Agbeko.
“Sometimes I feel they are just being unfair to me but that will not discourage me from becoming a three-time champion.”
Neither will a pandemic. Due to the COVID-19, Agbeko hasn’t fought since December 2020, when he scored a fifth-round TKO over Albert Commey in Accra. The plan is to continue fighting locally until the much-anticipated world title shot beckons.
“I am looking forward to what this year will come along with. I have to look forward to remaining active and that requires that I fight,” said Agbeko.
“We have to look at which opponent is best for me and then we will decide on when to fight. I have a belief that the shot will come by the close of the year.”
In the meantime, Agbeko is considering his options for the future should he retire from the sport. All of them revolve around boxing. Only one thing comes to mind and that is boxing business.
“I haven’t taken a decision yet on whether to become a trainer or a manager but what I know is that I will surely be in the boxing business,” said Agbeko.
“In the coming years, I will definitely come out with a decision when the time finally comes for me to bow out. There are a lot of lessons that I have to pass on to the next generation.”
