Former Ghanaian boxer, Joseph Agbeko believes he is not accorded with the level of respect a two-time former world champion, should receive.

Agbeko won the first of his bantamweight titles in September 2009 when he defeated Luis Alberto Perez, over 7 rounds. The ‘King Kong’ won all rounds on all cards, with the referee forced to retire Perez after a doctor’s advice.

The Nicaraguan suffered a cut beneath his left eye.

He defended his title with a majority decision victory over William Gonzalez and former two-division world champion, Vic Darchinyan.

However in October 2009, he lost the IBF Bantamweight title to Colombian, Johnny Perez. But Agbeko retook the belt – against the same fighter in a rematch before ultimately losing it to Abner Mares.

Besides the IBF’s bantamweight, Agbeko also wielded the Commonwealth title between 2004 and 2006, as well as the IBO title in 2013, and he believes he’s not respected enough despite all the achievements.

“The boxing community does not appreciate me, love me or treat me like how they do to the other boxers. I don’t know if it’s because I am from the Volta region,” Agbeko told JoySports.

“Even with the Bukom Boxing Arena, there’s a place where they have pictures of all of Ghana’s champions – [mine is not there].”

Ghana has achieved bags of success in boxing, producing 10 world champions – with Azumah Nelson the poster boy.

Ike Quartey and David Kotey are also two names very much regarded locally, and Agbeko suggests the trio are the only ahead of him in Ghana’s boxing history – as a result, his legend cannot be exempted from Ghana’s only boxing edifice.

“Joseph Agebko was not a fighter who won only one world title. When you look at Ghana’s champions from DK Poison, Azumah Nelson and everyone, if you want to mention three or four great champions out of the 10, you will mention my name because I am a two-time world champion. Azumah is a three-time world champion, Nana Konadu also won a world title about twice – I am behind those great fighters,” Agbeko said.

“I have achieved a lot in boxing so there is no way anybody should put up pictures of fighters who have achieved for Ghana, and they wouldn’t think of Joseph Agbeko.”