Oto Joseph (born November 25, 1992) is a Nigerian professional boxer who held the African lightweight title from two times 2017 to 2020 and from 2022 till date . As an amateur, he represented his country at the 2013 World Championships and 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Early years In his youth, Joseph had an interest in both football and taekwondo. He then switched to boxing after watching his older brother train. Although his parents were originally against the decision, he won a gold medal at the National Sports Festival in 2012. 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.
He received a shot at the vacant 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. 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. He defeated Kammwamba by unanimous decision at GOtv Boxing Night 12 in Lagos for his third title belt.
On December 26, 2017, Joseph stopped Egyptian fighter Ahmed Abdulrahim for the African lightweight title at GOtv Boxing Night 13 in Lagos. He became the first African lightweight champion from Nigeria since two-time Olympian Christopher Ossai was stripped of the title in 1993. 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.
In his first fight of 2019 he defended his African crown against Success Tetteh at GOtv Boxing Night 18 in Ibadan on April 21. 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.
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. 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. Joseph claimed to have never received any correspondence from the ABU concerning the decision.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes19Win18–1 Abdul Malik JabirRTD1 (6), Dec 24, 2021 18Loss17–1 Mark UrvanovUD10Sep 11, 2021 17Win17–0 Anama DotseTKO3 (10), March 7, 2021 16Win16–0 Tope AgboolaKO3 (8), July 21, 2019 15Win15–0 Success TettehKO2 (12), April 21, 2019 14Win14–0 Hammed GaniyuUD8Dec 28, 2018 13Win13–0 Emmanuel MensahTKO5 (10)Oct 14, 2018 12Win12–0 Nathanael NukpeUD12Jul 29, 2018 11Win11–0 Prince NwoyeUD10Apr 14, 2018 10Win10–0 Ahmed AbdulrahimTKO5 (12)Dec 26, 2017 9Win9–0 Israel KammwambaUD10Oct 1, 2017 8Win8–0 Mettle AyiteyKO1 (12), Mar 26, 2017 7Win7–0 Fatai Nurudeen4 (8)Dec 26, 2016 6Win6–0 Richard AmenfuUD8Oct 2, 2016 5Win5–0 Fatai NurudeenUD12May 1, 2016 4Win4–0 Hogan Jimoh Jr.TKO1 (6)Mar 25, 2016 3Win3–0 Fatai NurudeenUD8Oct 25, 2015 2Win2–0 Ola Adebakin6Aug 23, 2015 1Win1–0 Kehinde Bhadmus2 (6)Mar 15, 2015
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