Mexico’s Cesar Juarez touched down at Kotoka International Airport in Accra late Friday night, looking refreshed and brimming with confidence. Juarez will face undefeated Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe of Ghana for the interim WBO World super bantamweight title this Saturday, January 6th, at Bukom Boxing Arena.
“I will be the first man to stop him in the ring because he is not a match to me,” Juarez declared. “I believe he is yet to fight a stronger Mexican like me.”
Whether Dogboe is up to the challenge remains to be seen, but there’s no question that his first world title shot is against a worthy opponent.
Juarez, 20-5 (15 KO’s), is a tough competitor who fought for a world title back in 2015; a game but losing effort against Filipino legend Nonito Donaire. At 26, he’s still young enough to make a mark in the sport. And now he has been granted another world title shot.
“I am ready for the fight against Isaac Dogboe,” he told reporters. “It will be a knockout victory for me on January 6.”
Dogboe, (17-0, 11 KO’s), is a 23-year-old fighter on the ascent. He made his bones in the English amateur ranks. As a young pro, he sparred the likes of Carl Frampton, Leo Santa Cruz, and Jessie Magdaleno, the current title-holder.
Dogboe has shown world class skill in his prior two bouts, stopping Julian Aristule in New Zealand in December 2016, and beating down Javier Chacon in six rounds last July. But if Juarez is worried about the sturdy boxer-puncher, it doesn’t show.
“He is quick and strong but can’t stand me in the ring,” he continued. “It will be a win for me on the night I promise.”
Tough talk from a tough man. He’ll have a chance to back up those words on Saturday night.
