Opinion: Dogboe on the road to becoming world champion

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Boxing is a very competitive sport in the world.

Gone are the days when people used to stay awake to watch a Ghanaian boxer fight on the other side of the world. Great boxers such as Azumah Nelson, Ahmed Saraku, Manyo Plange, Ike Quartey, Joshua Clottey, to mention a few made boxing a loved sport in Ghana.

People eagerly anticipated these great boxers fight to raise the flag of Ghana high.

Same cannot be said today. Boxing in Ghana is fading, fast. Measures, or what seem like measures, have been put in place by the Ghana Sports Authority to no avail. Joshua Clottey (former International Boxing Federation Welterweight champion) stated his concern about boxing in Ghana. “It is sad the way boxing is sinking and from the way we handle the sport in this country, it will be extremely difficult to raise champions,” he said recently on Joy FM.

“It is difficult to rise to the top as an African, the system doesn’t favour us and what complicates it is the way we are running the sport in the country,” he continued.

Cast your mind back to May 2010 when Joshua “the hitter” Clottey fought with one of the world's best boxers Manny Pacquiao. Ghanaians all over the world kept vigil to watch the bout. Though he lost by a unanimous decision, he represented the country in great honour.

He brought back the smile on Ghanaian faces whenever they watch a boxing bout.

Today in Ghana, boxing has taken a nosedive. We do have over fifty (50) boxing clubs with majority of them based in Accra. It is worth noting that all Ghana’s past world champions were products the amateur boxing system. It has for some time now descended to its lowest ebb and it is important that it’s put back into the pinnacle where it once belonged.

Undefeated Ghanaian boxer, Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogbe has just won a unification title on Friday against Neil Tabanao of the Philippines. Dogbe (15-0, 9KOs) is known for his speed, technique and skill. Friday's bout touted as “Africa vs. Asia”.

The Ghanaian defended his title last month, stopping Uganda’s Edward Kakembo in the sixth round at the Accra Sports Stadium. Tabanao was also coming off a victory, knocking out Australia’s Ibrahim Balla in three rounds to win the vacant WBO Oriental featherweight title last month at the Bendigo stadium in Victoria, Australia.

Paul Dogboe, the trainer and father of Isaac, was hopeful that his son will soon return home with a world title to prove his worth as a true undisputed champion. He continues to say Isaac is ever ready for any boxer in his weight category irrespective of where he comes from.

Isaac is on the road to be a world champion and his time starts now.

Get the writer at josephagbobli@rocketmail.com

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