Joe Manley


Joe Louis Manley Jr. was an American former boxer who fought at light welterweight.

Amateur career

Manley qualified as a lightweight for the 1980 United States Olympic team, defeating Frankie Randall on his way to earning his berth. Manley did not compete, however, due to the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics. Manley was also the 1981 United States Amateur champion at lightweight.

Professional career

Manley became a professional boxer in 1981. He lost to future champion Gene Hatcher in 1983 but defeated another future champion, Freddie Pendleton, in 1985. He qualified for his title shot by winning a decision over Howard Davis Jr. in February 1986. He went on to win the International Boxing Federation light welterweight title with a 10th-round knockout over Gary Hinton in October 1986. He lost the title to Terry Marsh in 1987. He retired in 1989 after a loss to future world champion Loreto Garza and James McGirt.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
39LossBuddy McGirtTKO9 1989-11-10Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon, New York, U.S.
38Win29–7–2Donnie PooleUD10 1989-09-20War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York, U.S.
37Loss28–7–2Henry Anaya JrKO5 1989-06-17Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
36Loss28–6–2Loreto GarzaKO7 1989-01-25ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.
35Win28–5–2Ray GastellumTKO1 1988-10-27Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
34Draw27–5–2Luis MoraPTS8 1988-08-13Pima County Fairgrounds, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
33Loss27–5–1Dexter SmithKO2 1988-01-23Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
32Win27–4–1Martin QuirozUD10 1987-06-14Harrah's Marina Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
31Loss26–4–1Terry MarshTKO10 1987-03-04Festival Hall Super Tent, Basildon, England, U.K.Lost IBF light-welterweight title
30Win26–3–1Gary HintonKO10 1986-10-30Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.Won IBF light-welterweight title
29Win25–3–1Sammy YoungUD6 1986-07-26Civic Center, Glens Falls, New York, U.S.
28Win24–3–1Howard Davis Jr.UD10 1986-02-28Golden Nugget, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
27Win23–3–1Frank MontgomeryUD10 1985-11-21Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26Draw22–3–1Gary HintonSD12 1985-08-23Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For USBA light-welterweight title
25Win22–3George BrownTKO7 1985-07-10Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24Loss21–3Ronnie ShieldsUD12 1985-03-25Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.For North [American Boxing Federation|NABF] light-welterweight title
23Win21–2Freddie PendletonUD10 1985-02-05Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
22Win20–2Terry WhittakerTKO7 1984-12-14Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
21Win19–2Charlie AllenTKO7 1984-09-26Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
20Win18–2Victor BabiloniaUD10 1984-06-29Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
19Win17–2Terry WhittakerUD10 1984-05-25Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
18Win16–2Andre WynnTKO1 1984-04-27The Theater at [Madison Square Garden|Felt Forum], New York City, New York, U.S.
17Win15–2Cesar GuzmanPTS8 1984-03-13Champ's Camp, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
16Win14–2Bobby JohnsonTKO3 1984-02-07Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15Loss13–2Gene HatcherUD12 1983-11-12Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
14Win13–1Al CarterTKO7 1983-08-30Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13Win12–1Darrell MitchellKO1 1983-07-29Ridgewood Grove, Queens, New York, U.S.
12Win11–1Glenn BurnettTKO3 1983-07-05Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
11Win10–1Thomas BakerUD10 1983-03-31Sands Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win9–1Al CarterMD10 1983-01-06Sands Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9Loss8–1Harry ArroyoSD10 1982-10-30Sands Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8Win8–0Arturo LeonUD10 1982-09-14Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
7Win7–0Carlos SantanaUD8 1982-07-18Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6Win6–0Mike BluntKO6 1982-05-18Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5Win5–0James SingletonTKO3 1982-04-20Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
4Win4–0David BrownUD8 1982-04-02Sands Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3Win3–0Cedric BarkleyKO1 1982-03-16Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0Terry ButlerTKO4 1982-02-09Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1Win1–0Maurice SaalakhanUD6 1981-12-26Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.

Later life & death

Manley converted to Islam after he retired from boxing & adopted the name Bilal Ajani Sekou. In 2008 he filed a $15 million discrimination lawsuit against his employer Consumers Energy. Manley began to suffer from Dementia in his later years & went missing from his care facility in 2017, he was eventually found a few day later. He died in May 2023 in New Orleans.