Joshua Clottey

Joshua Clottey was never stopped in his professional career, which included fights with Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao. In August 2008 he beat Zab Judah to win the vacant IBF welterweight title.

Early years

He was born in Ghana on 6 October 1977 and loved football as a boy, like his father. He boxed for Ghana at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, then moved to Britain and later the United States.

Professional career

He won his first twenty fights, 14 by knockout, before a disqualification for head butts against Carlos Baldomir. A ten-fight winning streak followed, including the African Boxing Union and IBF intercontinental titles. In December 2006 he broke his hand during a world title fight with Margarito, a bout later questioned after Margarito was found to have used loaded hand wraps in another fight. In April 2007 he beat Diego Corrales in what turned out to be Corrales's last fight. After winning the IBF belt from Judah, he lost a split decision to Cotto at Madison Square Garden in June 2009 for the WBO title. He boxed until 2019.