An events organiser, Daniel Quashigah, is planning to stage civil action against former world boxing champion, Joseph ‘King-Kong’ Agbeko, for failing to redeem monies owed him after an international title fight, seven years ago.
Mr Quashigah was contracted by a promotional outfit – Fresh King Entertainment, owned by the boxer, to provide a number of services ahead of the Agbeko-Louis Malendez International Boxing Organisation (IBO) title fight which took place at the Accra Sports Stadium on March 22, 2013.
“My services included the provision of sound, ticketing, stage, lights, seats and general promotion of the fight at a total cost of GH¢27,000,” he told the Times Sports.
However, according to the popular event organiser – who is also an international video shooter, Agbeko has failed to settle the fees “despite several appeals to him.”
“For seven years, I have been trying to find a diplomatic way of getting my money; but I now know he is adamant on paying me. My patience, obviously, has run out.
“In the last three years or so now, he hasn’t been picking my calls and he keeps avoiding me all this while,” he lamented, adding that “I have no other option than run to the court to institute civil action against him.”
“Maybe, that’s the only means by which I can retrieve my money.”
The Nima Police, which is handling the case, has confirmed the story.
When reached yesterday, the boxer – nicknamed King Kong, did not deny his financial obligation to Quashigah, but said he had not refused to pick the latter’s calls.
However, moments after contacting Agbeko, he returned Quashigah’s call.
“Because he knew there was going to be a publication on the matter, he called me to sit and talk again, insisting their image was on the line. But truth is, I’m heading to court to settle matters,” Quashigah insisted.
On that fateful fight day, Agbeko put up some shimmering performance to recapture his IBO bantamweight title by unanimously outpointing Colombia’s Luis Melendez in 12 rounds of breathtaking exchanges.
Referee Deon Dwarte of South Africa scored the bout 117-111; Ataa Eddie Pappoe of Ghana, 119-111, while Netherlands’ Laten Oumgar also recorded the bout 117-113. But the Ghanaian lost his title on points to hard-hitting Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux Ortiz on December 7, 2013.
Agbeko is a two-time former bantamweight world champion, having held the IBF title twice between 2007 and 2011.
Currently, he holds the WBO Africa bantamweight title.
BY JOHN VIGAH