Dogboe, Commey will be champions again — Zwennes

The President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Mr Peter Zwennes, believes Richard Commey and Isaac Dogboe will become world champions again in the coming years.

Mr Zwennes noted that the former world titlists had all the qualities required to come back stronger in the ring after surprisingly losing their belts.

Short reign

Dogboe defeated Mexican-American Jessie Magdaleno in April, 2018 to win the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) super bantamweight title but lost the crown only in his second defence to Emanuel Navarrete in December that same year.

Commey followed a similar path by defeating Russian Isa Chaniev in February 2019 to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight championship only to lose his second title defence to Teofimo Lopez in December 2019.

Mr Zwennes, who was close to the two former champions during their short reign, explained that it was unfortunate the duo could not hold on to their titles for a longer period, but expressed the hope that their determination to put the setbacks behind them would aid their climb back to the top.

“We know the capabilities of Commey and Dogboe and I don’t want anyone to write them off just because they lost their titles.

“That would be unfair on their part because they are very good fighters and I believe what happened to them was just unfortunate. I am hopeful they will come back stronger,” he told the Daily Graphic.

Back to the drawing board

Dogboe has relocated to US where he has been training to get in shape and revive his career, while Commey has been on vacation in Ghana since losing to Lopez.

With the COVID-19 pandemic on the rise, it is, however, unclear when both fighters will make their much anticipated return to the ring.