Royal Storm in the midst of the storm!
Bernard Neequaye
Sports News
Losing is part of a learning process but the ability to come back stronger is what makes one stand out. Isaac 'Royal Storm' Dogboe’s career is no exception.
The former World Boxing Organisation (WBO) super bantamweight champion makes a long-awaited ring return tomorrow, July 21, against Chris Avalos. It is a must win fight for the Ghanaian.
Dogboe needs victory to restore his confidence after his two consecutive defeats to Emanuel Navarrete in 2018 and 2019. The defeats were so painful after losing his WBO belt in the process.
After the losses, he decided to move up to featherweight, which he described as a more favourable division. On Tuesday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Dogboe will open a new chapter at 126 pounds.
He is used to his new division, having begun his professional career as a featherweight. It was at featherweight that he beat Filipino Neil John Tabanao in Accra to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth Silver crown in 2016.
Four years down the line, he makes a return to his favourite division in a very crucial bout. Nevertheless, I don’t expect him to struggle tomorrow against Avalos.
I believe he has learnt a lot from his previous defeats and that would make him a better fighter in the coming years. It is, however, expected to show against Avalos.
Fight analysis
Dogboe has the pedigree advantage going into the fight, having won a world title in 2018. Avalos, on the other hand, failed twice in 2015 and 2017 to become a world champion.
In 2015, Avalos suffered a fifth round technical knockout to Carl Frampton when he challenged for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight crown. Two years later, he had a shot at Leo Santa Cruz’s World Boxing Association’s (WBA) super featherweight crown and lost by a knockout in round eight.
It is interesting to note that both Dogboe and Avalos are coming back from two consecutive defeats. In the American’s case, he has lost five of his previous bouts.
Avalos stands tall with a professional experience of 34 bouts with 27 victories and 7 defeats, while Dogboe has 20 wins and two losses from 22 fights. At age 30, Avalos will try to deal with a younger Dogboe who turns 26 in September.
The 25-year-old Ghanaian goes into the fight with new trainers, Barry Hunter and Patrice Harris, in his corner. It will be the first in his professional career that he enters the ring without his father and trainer figure, Paul Dogboe.
Dogboe’s choice of Hunter and Harris as his new trainers is a good decision. The duo are much respected in the sport and will improve on his technical abilities.
His opponent, the 30-year-old Avalos, is in the twilight of his career but will be a good test for Dogboe who is making a ring return in over a year.
The bout is expected to be centered on exchanges as both fighters like trading punches. Dogboe and Avalos are entertaining boxers and each of them will rely on power to win what is expected to be a thriller.
Dogboe needs to be on top of his game because Avalos can hit hard as is evidenced in his 20 knockouts in 27 victories. The Ghanaian must be ready to deal with that, having proved in his two fights with Navarrete that he can take punishment.
In those defeats, Dogboe lacked defensive qualities, an area he must work on going into this bout and with that sorted, he should earn victory over Avalos tomorrow.
Possible move
Dogboe has an opportunity to move back to super bantamweight following Navarrete’s decision to vacate the WBO belt. If that happens, he could challenge for the title he once held for eight months.
It will be the dream of his new trainers to see him move back to 122 pounds but Dogboe’s ability to make the weight will be crucial. It is indeed going to take a toll on him.
But all in all, whatever decision he makes going forward must be supported since he has what it takes to reach greater heights. With Hunter and Harris in his corner, I believe he would improve technically to attain the heights expected of him.
The rejuvenation, however, starts from tomorrow against Avalos, which is a must-win!
