On May 11, 2019, former world champion Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe, suffered a 12th round TKO at the hands of powerful Mexican boxer Emmanuel Navarette.
The defeat confirmed his back-to-back loss to Navaratte, ending his opportunity to reclaim the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super- bantamweight title which left his arms in 2018.
After more than a year away, the 25-year-old will return to the ring on Tuesday, 21 July 2020, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, USA.
His opponent will be American boxer Chris ‘Hitman’ Avalos, a 30-year-old with more experience in the ring.
Avalos has been involved in 34 fights, accomplishing 27 wins (20 via knockout) and seven losses.
Dogboe has an impressive record in the sport despite his failings in recent memory.
We Give Thanks To God. Made Weight. 126LBS
Tomorrow We Win.
MY RETURN TO THE RING IS OFFICIALLY #ACTIVELIVE ON @espn Don’t forget to tune in. #DOGBOERETURNS2020 #NEHO@toprank
– 🎥 @frankstea #FrankStea pic.twitter.com/oMfP9jTUcC— Isaac Dogboe (@IsaacDogboe) July 20, 2020
The Ghanaian has racked up 20 wins and two losses in 22 total fights.
14 of those victories came via knockout. The bout will last eight rounds and it occurs in the featherweight division after Dogboe decided to move up from the Super-bantamweight division. The featherweight is not new for Isaac as he fought in that division during the early years of his career.
He last fought in the division in August 2016, where he dominated Filipino boxer John Neil Tabanao to clinch the WBC Youth World title.
He will hope to make his comeback a perfect one.
The defeat to Navarette lingers on but the upcoming bout provides a chance for Dogboe to remind Ghanaians and the world that he still has the heart of a champion.
Meanwhile, the father of the boxer, Paul Dogbe, has predicted victory for his son.
He said his son has been hungry for victory and is confident his son will pull through.
