Three-time boxing world champion Joseph Agbeko is unhappy with the World Boxing Organization (WBO) for the scheduling of a WBO bantamweight eliminator coming off in the next 24 hours in the UK.

Agbeko, who is currently the number one contender on the WBO’s rankings was supposed to face Paul Butler in a final eliminator for the major title but had to give way to another opponent. Agbeko’s inability to secure visas for the trip to the UK from his base in Accra, Ghana was the main reason which seems to have heavily frustrated the former champion.

“I was given late notice for this fight. I was told three weeks ahead of time and immediately had to get myself in order and organize myself,” a rather unhappy Agbeko told Joy Sports.

According to the former IBO champion, he also found out that Butler had stated he had an eight week training camp for the bout. “This is not fair especially considering that I am the number one contender. He was given enough time to prepare while I was given short notice. I am not happy about this. I have petitioned the WBO to ensure that I still fight the final eliminator as the main contender”.

The promoters MTK Global have put Mexican Willibaldo Perez (12-4-1) to face Paul Butler for the eliminator. As it stands the same WBO international title what Perez and Butler are fighting for. Butler nicknamed Baby Faced Assasin, is also a former WBO super flyweight champion and has a record of 32 wins and two losses.

“I am hoping to get a response from the WBO from Monday 28 since they will be busy this weekend,” he told Joy Sports.  

Agbeko, who is now 41, is looking forward to replicating previous feats between 2007 and 2017, where he won the IBF title on two different occasions and the IBO once.  His expectation of the WBO is to have the winner of the Butler-Perez bout fight him before determination is made on who fights for the main title. Agbeko has 43 wins, 28 of which came via knockouts and five losses making up his record.