Ramadan break re-ignites Bogere’s fury

Hard Yards. Bogere (L) working out with padman William Macgrefen before a sparring session at the TMT gym, Las Vegas last Friday. PHOTO BY Douglas D. Bugingo

What you need to know:

  • BOXING. Bogere, who is currently ranked 23 out of 100 by the World Boxing Council, keeps showing something new each time he fights. He is likely to get a fight next month.

LAS VEGAS.

Despite all of Sharif Bogere’s success over the years, he is quick to admit that there are moments in the recent past when his self-confidence almost vanished.
Bogere has literally achieved it all as a former World Boxing Organisation NABO Lightweight champion and World Boxing Association Lightweight title contender with an impressive fight record of 31-1-0 that recently joined the famed Mayweather camp.
But for ardent sportsmen - self esteem doesn’t take any special to disappear. It is a little spark. And that’s what an Achilles tendon injury and forced absence from the ring for a year can do to a boxer. It was a no-show for him in 2016 as he healed.
Bogere, 29, was reflective and revealing last Friday after his evening session at his promoter and former American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr’s gym, Las Vegas. “Oh man, I have gone through some tough times because of the injury. Actually at one point, I felt like all my input was hitting a rock and this affected my self-confidence a big deal,” said Bogere, whose lifestyle also contributed a great deal to his quick recovery.
“As you know, I do not hang out a lot. I go by the book when it comes to what I should do and not do as a boxer. I did a lot of meditation and training as well before I regained shape and my confidence back.”
Bogere says his confidence levels are sky-high currently despite being in a silent mode as he had to observe the holy month of Ramadan.
“Everything is okay right now. I feel good, confident and ready. I have had two fights since my return from the injury and I feel good about the way I fought them. I have been silent because of Ramadan. But don’t be fooled, I train every day,” said Bogere. Jimmy Alex, Bogere’s manager for a decade now, said that it was no accident that he signed the Ugandan national.

No regrets
“I remember deeply when I first saw Bogere. He was a young man full of confidence and determination. Ten years on, he still maintains those virtues. He is also disciplined and knows what he wants,” said Alex. “He is working on strength and conditioning. He trains three times a day and I am trying to find him a fight towards end of July.”
Bogere, currently ranked 23 out of 100 by the World Boxing Council (WBC), keeps showing something new each time he fights. In January during his fight against Mexican opponent Arturo Santos Reyes, Bogere showed he could deploy a tactical approach to his fight instead of the usual explosiveness. Last November he showed he could withstand the challenge of a top rival, Jose Louis ‘La Boa’ Rodrigues, pressing him early, in addition to boxing with surprising toughness.
For his next trick, Bogere will have to shake off the Ramadan effects before he knows his next opponent.
“He (Bogere) belongs right to the top of his division. If it was not the injury, trust me, he would be a champion now. I have a lot of trust in him because he is a smart kid and also works hard. I think after that fight in July, our next duel will be a title challenge,” said Alex.