Rising Ghanaian contender Isaac Dogboe is ready for the next step in his career. Dogboe, 16-0 (10 KO’s), will defend his WBO International super bantamweight title on July 22nd against Argentina’s Claudio Fernando Echegaray.
Echegary’s 17-0-1 (9 KO’s) record suggests that he is no slouch but this will be a major step up in class for him. The 27-year-old has had only one bout out of his native Argentina and that was in neighboring Uruguay. Not only will he be fighting out of South America for the first time, he’ll do it at the newly-built Bukom Boxing Arena in Dogboe’s hometown of Accra, Ghana.
Twenty-two year old Dogboe is coming off an impressive seventh round TKO of another Argentine, Julian Evaristo Aristule, last December in New Zealand. The bout was the lead in to the WBO world heavyweight title fight between Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz.
The performance opened the eyes of the international press. But Dogboe is no stranger to that scene, having sparred with the likes of Carl Frampton during the early portion of his career.
He’ll be motivated to put on a solid display in front of his kinsmen. His last fight in Ghana was a rough one. Filipino Neil John Tabanao extended “Royal Storm” the full twelve rounds for only the second time in his career, giving as good as he got throughout. Dogboe won a clear but close unanimous decision.
A win over Echegary puts Dogboe in line for a world title shot versus WBO beltholder Jessie Magdaleno. Questions remain as to whether Dogboe is ready for that step up in class but father/trainer Paul Dogboe is convinced his son is ready for the elite level now.
But first things first. Dogboe can’t afford to overlook Echegary. And fans can’t afford to miss this fight.
