Boxer Joel Kodua Express Satisfaction With His Career Path

Ghanaian-born UK boxer Joel Kodua has expressed his satisfaction with his career so far.

The 26-year-old super-welterweight prospect, sponsored by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, extended his unbeaten record to four following an easy six-round 60-54 points victory over Nicaragua’s Eligio Palacios.

Kodua faced the Nicaraguan on the undercard of Dennis McCann’s WBO inter-continental super-bantamweight title draw with Ionut Baluta at York Hall on Friday, August 18, 2023.

Palacious, who is from Zaragoza in Spain, had never enjoyed success in 24 prior travels to this country, with only eight wins in 83 fights since turning professional in June 2009.

Regulars at the famed old Bethnal Green venue would have seen Palacios perform for the fifth time, having previously lost to Kazakhstan’s Nurtas Azhbenov, Elliot Whale, Alex Bishop, Joshua Frankham – who is also on Warren’s Queensberry Promotions roster – and now Kodua.

Kodua began life as an engineer on railway tracks before transitioning to sports and becoming a professional boxer.

On September 16, he defeated Joe Hardy over four rounds in his maiden fight at York Hall, and so far, the career switch to the ever-competitive fight game appears to be a wise decision for Kodua, who is a regular sparring partner to Hackney’s two-time world light-heavyweight title contender Anthony Yarde.

“Basically next month is going to be a year since I’ve turned pro so I’m happy with the journey I’ve made so far, plus I’m always trying to elevate,” Kodua told Queensberry Promotions YouTube channel.

“Myself and Tunde [Ajayi] my coach was reminiscing about what I was doing before which was working on the railways, so it’s good to see where I’m at now.

“Tunde and the team was extremely happy with the performance and I was happy with the performance too. People saying it was my best yet.”

The Ghanaian has targeted an October return to York Hall – with a date still to be decided by the promoters – for another six-rounder and added: “I want to be active as much as possible. If I’m out before the end of the year then that’s brilliant.”