Dogboe teams up with legendary Roach as he looks to banish ghost of Navarrete

Kweku Zurek Sports News Jul - 28 - 2019 , 13:43

At age 59 and after already training over 20 world champions, legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach should be looking to hang his punch mitts but the American is not done yet with the pugilistic sport.

Early last week, a video went viral on the internet with Roach in a gym with on-the-mend former World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Isaac Dogboe.

Dogboe, 24, is coming off damaging back-to-back losses against the hard-hitting Mexican brawler Emanuel Navarrete. Both fights - the first via unanimous decision which saw him lose the WBO strap and the rematch (last May) via TKO left Team Dogboe at a career crossroads with some critics questioning the technical capacities of his corner given the punishment he suffered on the end of the steel-like fists of Navarrete which scored three knockdowns.

The Ghanaian's corner appeared outthought and outclassed for a second time, as the Mexican made full use of his massive reach advantage in the beatdown to retain the title without being tested by Dogboe whose father threw in the towel in the 12th round to end the punishment.

Indeed, so damaging was the loss that his father and trainer Paul Dogboe hinted of premature retirement from the sport for his son.

He told Myjoyonline that he would prefer his son to return school and take another path in life.

"I will not impose my will on him. However, I think he has had enough. I want him to return to school and continue his course and take another path in life. We worked hard but were unsuccessful at overcoming Navarette."

According to Paul, he was to have that conversation with his son and leave the final decision for him to make.

The ex-soldier form the British Army also hung up his training gear. "I have done my bit and had enough. I worked hard with my son but at this stage. I want to move on," he told Joy Sports.

Dogboe Snr may have had enough but barely two months later his son who was on the end of the punishing blows of Navarrete has had a change of heart and thrown his lot in with “La Cucaracha” (which means cockroach in Mexican) at the Wildcard Boxing Club in Los Angeles as he looks to make a sensational comeback.

In a video making the rounds on the internet (below), Roach who suffers from Parkinson’s disease is seen touting the championship capabilities of Dogboe.

"Isaac came all the way from the UK, now he's here at the Wild Card. Next world champion, next Manny Pacquiao," Roach says in his slurred speech caused by the Parkinson’s.

Dogboe follows up confirming that Roach has taken over as his trainer and he was looking forward to reclaiming a world title and walking in the steps of eight-division world champion, Pacquiao.

He also disclosed that his father (Paul) foretold that he would one day be trained by Roach.

"I am looking forward to walking in the path of the great Manny Pacquiao, you know. Many great world champions have passed through Freddie Roach and I am the Rising Star, I am also coming through, Dogboe says.

What Roach brings to Team Dogboe

Roach is a proven winner as his roster of former trainee confirms. Respected the world over for his calm demeanour in the corner and deep insight into the sport, Roach has guided over 20 champions including James Toney, Marlon Starling, Johnny Tapia, Michael Moorer, Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson and Bernard Hopkins.

In 2012, his influence in the corner of boxing greats was recognised when he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and later into the World Boxing Hall of Fame.

He has also been named Trainer of the year six times (2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 & 2014) by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Despite his capabilities, it must be mentioned that as a result of the Parkinson’s, he has difficulty walking, slightly slurred speech and general physical awkwardness as chronicled in the HBO series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

He is able to actively control the disease through medication, injections and his training of boxers although his advanced years may be a worry.

Roach's doctors feel that his active in-ring training routines with his fighters and tremendous eye-hand coordination that he has to exhibit have made it possible to slow the progress of the disease.

Verdict

Dogboe turns 25 years in September and as an elite boxer, he should be entering his prime years in the pugilistic sport.

However, back-to-back losses to Navarrete and the comments that followed from his camp means he may not be able to withstand a third successive setback in his young career.

There are few boxing trainers asides Roach who can be trusted to bring Ghana's Rising Star back from the edge.

The American has seen it all and done it all under the bright lights of this brutal sport. Something Dogboe's former trainer was only getting used to after leading his son to the World Boxing Organisation World Super Bantam Title in 2018.

From the videos, that have emerged from his training with Roach, Dogboe appears his usual bubbly self and is once again screaming out his mantra "Neho!".

One can tell that Dogboe is confident that once again, with the vastly experienced Roach in his corner and with hard work on what he describes as a "journey", he will be back at the top of the bantamweight division in no time.

Contact writer: @gskzurek on Twitter