Ghana native Agbeko focused on keeping bantamweight title

Long before the MTV show "Bully Beatdown" hit the airwaves, Joseph Agbeko was defending the honor of his friends in his native Ghana.

"When I was in school and they beat up my friends, they would come get me and (have me) fight for them," Agbeko said. "I would slap them and win the fight. Everybody was afraid of me then."

People still fear him.

Agbeko, the IBF bantamweight champion, will defend his title tonight at Treasure Island against undefeated Yonnhy Perez in the main event of promoter Don King's return to Las Vegas after a four-year hiatus.

Agbeko (27-1, 22 knockouts), said he needs to perform well if he hopes to retain his belt.

"It's a very important fight for me," Agbeko said of the 12-round bout that will be televised at 6 p.m. on Showtime. "Right now, I'm the only world champion from Ghana. I want my people to be proud of me."

Agbeko, 29, is friends with welterweight Joshua Clottey. The two live and train together in the Bronx, and Agbeko said Clottey inspires him, along with legendary fighters Azumah Nelson and Ike Quartey.

"They were my heroes growing up," said Agbeko, who began boxing at age 11 because he was getting into trouble at school standing up for his buddies who were being bullied. "Anytime I fight, I try to defend the honor of Ghana."

Agbeko is coming off a successful and controversial defense of his IBF title when he outpointed Vic Darchinyan on July 11 in Sunrise, Fla. He had bloodied Darchinyan's nose and above his left eye during the first five rounds. He was in control of the fight when he was knocked down by Darchinyan in the seventh round, one that inexplicably went four minutes instead of the allotted three.

Despite the timekeeper's mistake and the knockdown, which was more of a push but was called a knockdown by referee Tommy Kimmons, Agbeko recovered and went on to post a unanimous decision.

"I felt like I was fighting two people -- Darchinyan and the referee," Agbeko said. "But I wasn't going to let that stop me from winning."

Agbeko expects a stiff challenge from Perez (19-0, 14 KOs), who is coming off a May 29 win over Silence Mabuza in South Africa. It was Perez's first activity since he knocked out David Martinez in Primm on Sept. 5, 2008, as he positioned himself for a title shot.

"I think the main thing that has changed for me in the last year is my confidence," Perez said through an interpreter. "I'm a much more confident fighter. Even though I'm undefeated, I feel I can achieve more.

"This is my biggest challenge so far, and I will have to perform better. But I've had a good training camp, and if I keep my composure and follow the game plan, I will win."

Agbeko said of Perez, who is from Cartagena, Colombia: "He's a very good fighter. But I need to worry about what I do in the ring."

The seven-bout undercard is highlighted by the 12-round WBC interim lightweight title fight between Tony DeMarco and Jose Alfaro. The first bell is scheduled for 3:15 p.m.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.