Boxing
Bogere shapes up for world title showdown against Abril
Bogere works out with his coach Keny Adams (L) in a Las Vegas gym. The Ugandan is in line to win a world title. PHOTO BY douglas bugingo.
Posted Saturday, November 3 2012 at 02:00
In Summary
The Ugandan is undefeated in 23 professional fights but taking on Cuban Richard Abril will be his biggest ever challenge.
Kampala
Uganda has previously produced some of the best boxers in the world but Sharif ‘The Lion’ Bogere looks on track to become the finest of all.
The stout but fierce boxer has been a revelation since he stepped into the ring and is currently one of the most sought-after pugilists in Las Vegas.
On November 24, the 24-year-old makes his first attempt at a world title when he challenges Richard Abril at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. Although he is unbeaten as a professional in four years, this will be the fight of life.
It’s a fight he must win to join the list of Ugandans including Cornelius Boza, Ayub Kalule, John ‘The Beast’ Mugabi, Kassim ‘The Dream’ Ouma and Jackson ‘Action’ Asiku, who have previously ruled the world. “It is my dream to become a world champion,” Bogere has often said. “I am up to the task, am not called a lion for nothing.”
Bogere has floored four of his last five opponents (Manuel Leyva, Sergio Rivera, Francisco Contreras, Raymundo Beltran, and Shamir Reyes). Only Beltran managed to avoid a knockout as the Ugandan claimed the vacant North American Boxing Organization (Nabo) lightweight title.
At 30, Abril is six years older than the Ugandan but Bogere boasts more experience with 23 fights compared to the Cuban whose record which stands at 17-3-1-8Kos. “I don’t think there is much diffirence in experience between us. With a world title at stake, experience won’t count,” said Bogere. Born on October 8, 1988, in Kisenyi, a Kampala suburb, Bogere started his amateur career with Kampala Boxing Club and still praises them for teaching him the basics.
“A friend called Mukiibi used to organise fights in Kisenyi when we were kids. I always won the fights but had no idea I would become a professional boxer,” Bogere reminisced.
Due to the horrible conditions in Uganda’s sports, Bogere vanished in America while on a national team assignment and has never returned.
ckyazze@ug.nationmedia.com
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