Former welterweight world champion Joshua Clottey has confidence in countryman Joseph Agbeko when the IBF Bantamweight king defends his title against undefeated IBF No. 1-ranked challenger Yohnny Perez in Las Vegas, USA. Agbeko (27-1, 22 KOs), has predicted a knockout win over Perez (19-0, 17 KOs), and Clottey is backing King Kong to do just that. “I know he will win because I have trust in him and I wish him a very very good luck to keep the belt for his family and all Ghanaians,” Joshua Clottey said in a correspondence.

32-year-old Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs), only last week received the disappointment of cancellation of his previously billed December 5 clash against former WBO Welterweight champ Carlos Quintana (26-2, 20 KOs). It would have been the Ghanaian hitman’s first fight since losing a split decision to Miguel Cotto on June 13, a fight many believe Clottey won. Clottey who beat former undisputed champ Zab Judah in August 2008 to win the world title but never defended it until the loss to Cotto, had hoped for a bigger package from victory over Quintana in the non-title undercard of Kelly Pavlik’s WBC/WBO middleweight defence against Paul Williams.

“I am disappointed but what can I do?” Joshua could not help but say after the fight against Quintana which was an undercard also got called off after Pavlik had to pull out due to a slow healing infection on his left hand, which had required two surgeries. But the Ghanaian boxer remains optimistic that he will fight again soon. A rematch with Miguel Cotto or even a mega fight against Shane Mosley or Manny Pacquaio are still among many possibilities for the 32 year old Clottey.

But the man who lives in the Bronx in New York with Joseph Agbeko, is rallying Ghanaians to support the IBF Bantamweight champ to successfully defend the title for the homeland. “King Kong remains our only world champion now so we have to pray for him to beat Perez and keep the title for Ghana. I wish him well and I know he will not disappoint us,” Joshua said.