Joe Maphosa Explained

Joe Maphosa
Nickname:Smokin' Joe
Weight:
Height:5 ft 4 in
Nationality:
  • Zimbabwean
  • British
Birth Date:1994 4, df=y
Birth Place:Beitbridge, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe
Style:Orthodox
Boxrec:788159
Total:13
Wins:12
Ko:1
Losses:1

Joseph Maphosa (born 7 April 1994) is a Zimbabwe-born British professional boxer.

Early life

Joseph Maphosa was born on 7 April 1994 in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe, where he grew up with his parents and two brothers. When Maphosa was 9, his father, a maths teacher and part-time accountant, emigrated to England in an attempt to find work and provide a better life for his wife and three sons. His father eventually settled in Middlesbrough, and after saving up enough money Joe and his two brothers flew to England to join his father. He attended St. Pius X primary school in Middlesbrough where he gained an interest in cricket. His interest in boxing came after watching Bernard Hopkins fight on TV, saying, "I enjoyed playing cricket and running around in the playground at school, but then I saw a clip of Bernard Hopkins on TV and I liked what he was doing so I decided to get myself to a Boxercise class for general fitness to begin with but and that led onto me going to Middlesbrough ABC and from there I have never looked back."[1]

Amateur career

In an amateur career that spanned 75 fights with approximately 60 wins,[2] Maphosa reached the finals of two ABA Championships; in 2012 he was defeated by Reece Bellotti in the bantamweight final[3] and fell short against Sunny Edwards in the 2015 light-flyweight final.[4] He also competed for the British Lionhearts at the 2015 World Series of Boxing, losing a split decision to Cuban Domadores' Joahnys Argilagos at the York Hall in London.[5]

Professional career

Signed with Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions,[6] Maphosa made his professional debut on 13 May 2017, scoring a four-round points decision (PTS) victory over Gary Reeve at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England.[7]

Following four consecutive wins, he scored his first stoppage victory on 28 April 2018 at the Temple Park Leisure Centre in South Shields, stopping Steven Maguire via technical knockout (TKO) in the fourth and final round.[8]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
10Win10–0 Moises MojicaPTS629 Feb 2020
9Win9–0 Marius VysniauskasPTS813 Dec 2019
8Win8–0 Louis NormanPTS616 Mar 2019
7Win7–0 Steven MaguirePTS424 Nov 2018
6Win6–0 Gyula DoduPTS46 Oct 2018
5Win5–0 Steven Maguire4 (4), 28 Apr 2018
4Win4–0 Gary ReevePTS410 Mar 2018
3Win3–0 Craig DerbyshirePTS411 Nov 2017
2Win2–0 Anwar AlfadliPTS417 Sep 2017
1Win1–0 Gary Reeve413 May 2017

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Winterbottom. Danny. 21 March 2019. Making the jump: Joe Maphosa interview. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200607141732/https://www.boxingmonthly.com/stories/making-the-jump/. 7 June 2020. 7 June 2020. Boxing Monthly. en-GB.
  2. Web site: 3 May 2017. Introducing Flyweight flier 'Smoking' Joe' Maphosa. 7 June 2020. Frank Warren. en-GB.
  3. Web site: 19 April 2012. Title win for South Oxhey boxer. 7 June 2020. Watford Observer. en.
  4. Web site: Neal. Martin. 30 April 2015. Elite National Finals defeats rock Middlesbrough boxers in Liverpool. 7 June 2020. gazettelive. en.
  5. Web site: Steel. Adam. 23 April 2015. Joe Maphosa targeting first Elite National title after bright WSB debut against Cuba. 7 June 2020. gazettelive. en.
  6. Web site: 16 December 2016. Joe Maphosa Inks Promotional With Frank Warren. 7 June 2020. BoxingScene.com. en-us.
  7. Web site: Bevan. Matt. 13 May 2017. Tyrone Nurse Wins In Leeds, Will Face Catterall On July 15. 7 June 2020. BoxingScene.com. en-us.
  8. Web site: Johns. Craig. 30 April 2018. South Shields' Anthony Nelson shakes off the rust in tune-up win on boxing return. 7 June 2020. chroniclelive. en.