Boxing News of Tuesday, 14 October 2003

Source: GNA

Agbeko expresses dissatisfaction with manager

Accra, Oct 14, GNA - Joseph "Kingkong" Agbeko, former World Boxing Federation (WBF) bantamweight champion has expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of his mangers over the past years.

Agbeko who is being managed by Mr. Thomas Okine Chief executive of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Limited and Freddie Annan, a Ghanaian based in London said his mangers have not done enough to get him fights ever since he won the WBF title in 2001 and defended it London.

The boxer who was speaking to the GNA Sports said " I should have become a WBC champion by now, but my managers have failed to live up to their responsibilities and this has resulted in my inactiveness." Agbeko said boxing is his profession and has a whole lot of responsibilities on his shoulders but due to his inability to get fights he has failed as an individual to live up to his private responsibilities.

The boxer disputed the fact that other boxers are afraid of him adding that a better manger could have got him more fights to enable him progress in his chosen career.

He has therefore appealed to them to issue him with a release letter before he runs out of age adding "I'm running out of patience." Agbekeo said he has informed his lawyers and the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) on his decision and would advise himself if his managers fail to grant his request.

Agbeko turned professional after the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and became an African Champion in 2000. He crowned it with being given the Promising Star of the Year award by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG).

The boxer however expressed appreciation to his mangers for what they done for him over the past years.