Following talk of a potential 3^rd fight between Ghanaian boxer Isaac Dogboe and his Mexican counterpart Emmanuel Navarette, Ghanaian boxing trainer, Elvis Adjei-Baah, argues that a 3^rd fight between the two could prove fatal for Dogboe’s career.

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In the immediate aftermath of Isaac Dogboe’s crushing second defeat to Emmanuel Navarette, talk has immediately switched to a potential trilogy fight with the Mexican. 

And it is understandable, giving the prospects it offers – a potential comeback that gives him both victory and his title back. This is a fallacy being committed, one that has resulted from an emotional defeat to Navarette in their WBO super bantamweight title fight.

The Mexican had claimed the title from Dogboe five months prior, and the attempt to get it back resulted in yet another pummelling. 

This rematch played out almost exactly like the first, with Navarrete landing long straight shots and solid hooks on the shorter Dogboe, who struggled to maintain a range where he could effectively mount his own offense. That’s not to say that Dogboe didn’t try — boy did he try! — but that didn’t stop him from taking an uncomfortable number of clean jabs and power punches that had him wobbling all over the ring for nearly the whole fight.

This is certainly not how things were supposed to play out for Isaac Dogboe. A wonderful journey in 2018 which saw him capture and retain the world title ended in despair.

Dogboe had to make a return. He needed to prove himself after that disappointing loss. But against the Mexican, he stood no chance. 

The most used excuse by Team Dogboe when he lost his WBO Super bantamweight title to Emmanuel Navarette was the Ghanaian’s lack of fitness. 

According to them, a combination of poor preparation, illness, and the absence of his head trainer and father before the first bout was the reason for his poor display. 

But they were wrong. Understanding the problem is the first step of finding the solution, and Team Dogboe got that wrong. 

Yes, maybe fitness played a role, but the most telling and standout point was the tactical strategy and approach, coupled with the physique of both fighters. 

Dogboe’s strengths were naturally negated by Navarette’s physique, and he was going to be beaten by the Mexican 9 times out of 10, whether fit or not.

The height and reach advantage for Navarette made it too easy for him to ward off the threat of Dogboe, while at the same time punishing him at will. 

Despite all these glaring flaws in Dogboe’s game, his team decided to take the huge risk of accepting the rematch at such a pivotal moment in the young boxer’s career. 

The unforgiving nature of boxing is such that one high profile loss, and getting back could be like starting all over ; two, and your career could most certainly be ‘over’. 

The aforementioned natural advantages that Navarette possesses, coupled with Dogboe’s own natural deficiencies make for a potential 3^rd defeat for the Ghanaian. 

And this is why avoiding a 3^rd fight with Navarette might be the best decision for the Ghanaian and his entourage.