Oto Joseph

Oto Joseph (born November 25, 1992) is a Nigerian professional boxer who held the African lightweight title from 2017 to 2020. As an amateur, he represented his country at the 2013 World Championships and 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Oto Joseph
Statistics
Nickname(s)Joe Boy
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
NationalityNigerian
Born (1992-11-25) November 25, 1992
Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria[1]
Boxing record
Total fights16
Wins16
Wins by KO7
Losses0

Early years

In his youth, Joseph had an interest in both football and taekwondo.[2] He then switched to boxing after watching his older brother train.[2] Although his parents were originally against the decision, he won a gold medal at the National Sports Festival in 2012.[2] He also represented his country at the 2013 World Amateur Championships and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Professional career

Joseph made his professional debut on March 15, 2015, defeating Kehinde Bhadmus with a second-round technical knockout (TKO) in Lagos. After defeating compatriot Fatai Nurudeen in October, he beat him in a rematch five months later for the Nigerian lightweight title via unanimous decision (UD). This was the first time he headlined a professional card (GOtv Boxing Night 7). He also defeated Hogan Jimoh Jr., son of Nigerian boxing legend Hogan Jimoh, stopping him in the first round at GOtv Boxing Night 6.[3]

He received a shot at the vacant WABU lightweight title on March 26, 2017, facing Ghanaian veteran Mettle Ayitey at the Indoor Sports Hall of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan. He defeated Ayitey with a first-round TKO in the main event of GOtv Boxing Night 11 for the title.[4] Joseph was scheduled to face South African Dillon Youle for the inaugural Commonwealth Africa lightweight title, but Youle was replaced by undefeated Malawian prospect Israel Kammwamba due to injury.[5] He defeated Kammwamba by unanimous decision at GOtv Boxing Night 12 in Lagos for his third title belt.[6][7]

On December 26, 2017, Joseph stopped Egyptian fighter Ahmed Abdulrahim for the African lightweight title at GOtv Boxing Night 13 in Lagos.[8] He became the first African lightweight champion from Nigeria since two-time Olympian Christopher Ossai was stripped of the title in 1993.[9] In his first successful title defense, he defeated Ghanaian contender Nathanael Nukpe by unanimous decision seven months later at GOtv Boxing Night 15 in the Indoor Sports Hall of Adamasingba Stadium.[10]

In his first fight of 2019 he defended his African crown against Success Tetteh at GOtv Boxing Night 18 in Ibadan on April 21.[11] He dominated the Ghanaian challenger in a short fight; the referee stopped it in the second round in Joseph's favor after Tetteh was visibly struggling to keep his balance.[12][13]

Joseph was set to defend the African title against WABU lightweight champion Rilwan Oladosu in Lagos on October 12 in a matchup tagged the "Fight of the Decade" in Nigeria, but Joseph had to pull out after sustaining a shoulder injury in training.[14] The mandatory title defense was pushed back to December, but Joseph did not recover in time and was unable to fight Oladosu. In January 2020, the African Boxing Union (ABU) announced it had stripped him of his lightweight title belt due to his inability to defend it in the stipulated time frame.[15] Joseph claimed to have never received any correspondence from the ABU concerning the decision.[15]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
16 fights 16 wins 0 losses
By knockout 7 0
By decision 9 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
16 Win 16–0 Tope Agboola KO 3 (8), 2:15 July 21, 2019 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
15 Win 15–0 Success Tetteh KO 2 (12), 0:32 April 21, 2019 Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, Nigeria Retained African lightweight title
14 Win 14–0 Hammed Ganiyu UD 8 Dec 28, 2018 Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Nigeria
13 Win 13–0 Emmanuel Mensah TKO 5 (10) Oct 14, 2018 Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
12 Win 12–0 Nathanael Nukpe UD 12 Jul 29, 2018 Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan, Nigeria Retained African lightweight title
11 Win 11–0 Prince Nwoye UD 10 Apr 14, 2018 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
10 Win 10–0 Ahmed Abdulrahim TKO 5 (12) Dec 26, 2017 Landmark Events Centre, Lagos, Nigeria Won vacant African lightweight title
9 Win 9–0 Israel Kammwamba UD 10 Oct 1, 2017 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria Won inaugural Commonwealth Africa lightweight title
8 Win 8–0 Mettle Ayitey KO 1 (12), 2:10 Mar 26, 2017 Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, Nigeria Won vacant WABU lightweight title
7 Win 7–0 Fatai Nurudeen KO 4 (8) Dec 26, 2016 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria Retained Nigerian lightweight title[9]
6 Win 6–0 Richard Amenfu UD 8 Oct 2, 2016 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
5 Win 5–0 Fatai Nurudeen UD 12 May 1, 2016 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria Won Nigerian lightweight title[16]
4 Win 4–0 Hogan Jimoh Jr. TKO 1 (6) Mar 25, 2016 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
3 Win 3–0 Fatai Nurudeen UD 8 Oct 25, 2015 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria
2 Win 2–0 Ola Adebakin UD 6 Aug 23, 2015 The Elysium at Piccadilly Suites, Lagos, Nigeria
1 Win 1–0 Kehinde Bhadmus TKO 2 (6) Mar 15, 2015 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria

References
  1. "GOtv Boxing Night 12: Joe Boy Eyes History with Commonwealth Title Bid". This Day. September 30, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  2. "Okada Rider-Turned Boxer, Joseph: No Nigerian Pro Is a Threat To Me". completesports.com. January 21, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  3. "Joe Boy vs Real One: Nigeria's Most Anticipated Boxing Clash". This Day. March 9, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  4. Agberebi, James (March 27, 2017). "Babatunde Claims GOtv 2 million naira Jackpot As Fijabi, Joe Boy Win". completesports.com. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  5. "GOtv Boxing Night 12: Joe Boy gets new opponent for Commonwealth title". theeagleonline.com.ng. September 18, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  6. "12th Gotv Boxing :It was my toughest bout, Oto admits". The Nation. October 10, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  7. Sangala, Tom (October 3, 2017). "Israel Kam'mwamba loses in Nigeria". times.mw. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  8. "GOTv Boxing Night 13: Joe Boy, Fijabi win ABU titles". Vanguard. December 28, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  9. "Otto Joseph eyes African Lightweight title". The Nation. January 17, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  10. "Joseph retains ABU title at Gotv boxing". punchng.com. July 31, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  11. Umeh, Azu (April 24, 2019). "BOXING: Nigeria's 'Joe Boy' Successfully Defends Belt To Retain ABU Title". busybuddiesng.com. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  12. Obiajuru, Nomso (April 22, 2019). "Nigeria's Oto Joseph knocks out Ghanaian opponent Tetteh to retain ABU title". legit.ng. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  13. "Oto Joeboy Joseph Vs Success Brave Warrior Tetteh 12 Rounds ABU Lightweight Title Defence". Youtube. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  14. Lawal, Akeem (December 24, 2019). "ABU may strip Oto Joseph of African title". The Nation. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  15. Akpodonor, Gowon (January 15, 2020). "Nigeria's Oto Joe Boy stripped of ABU title". The Guardian (Nigeria). Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  16. "Top Nigerian boxers duel in Lagos competition". Premium Times. April 14, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Lunga Stimela		 African lightweight champion
December 26, 2017 – January 2020
Stripped		 Vacant
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