Agbeko's Corner Failed Him
Boxing promoter Anthony Kermah has blamed the corner of Joseph Agbeko for the boxer's latest failure to annex the International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight title at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California, USA, last Saturday.
He said Agbeko had outgrown his current technical team, and needed the drastic change that would make his abilities relevant in the scheme of dominant forces in world boxing.
Agbeko failed to glitter in the much anticipated rematch against Mexican Abner Mares, and all three judges ruled it 118-110 for the Mexican after the bout for the IBF and World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver belts travelled the full 12 rounds.
But Kermah, who heads the Landmark Management and Promotions Syndicate and has boxing managerial experience of nearly a decade, said Agbeko's corner “lacked the expert eye” to effect the changes in strategy to turn the fight in the Ghanaian's favour.
“His trainers have done some good job all through his (Agbeko's) career, but there comes a time when a more sophisticarted approach is required. That move is always crucial because it is what makes the difference on the big occasions and the big stages,” Kermah said.
He viewed Agbeko as a talented boxer with great experience, but said “when he encountered an equally good boxer like Mares he needed the help of a good corner”.
Mares has the renowned Miguel Bias as his cutsman, and a corner regarded as a solid team, while Golden Boy Promotions have full charge of his promotional responsibilities, and Kermah, son of John Kermah who partnered Oko Kwartekwei and Seth Asah during the days of Ringcraft Management and Promotions, said the Mexican was better equipped in terms of personnel to succeed in the business of boxing.
His views were echoed by Solomon Otoo Lartey who said the boxing world has a host of examples of boxers who changed trainers and corners and made progress, citing new WBA super-welterweight champion, Angel Miguel Cotto, as a typical example.
Experienced trainer, Godwin Dzanie Kotey, who was in the corner of former IBF welterweight champion, Joshua Clottey, when he made a successful return to the ring last month as a super-welterweight, said he was unsure about whether or not Agbeko had discarded instructions from the corner or that the corner had failed altogether to give the appropriate direction.
He said there was, however, no doubt that the corner of a boxer was crucial to his success.
He said with Agbeko's experience, he was sure the boxer would bounce back into world title contention again.