Could former foes show up in a new division?
Former WBO junior featherweight Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe (21-2, 15ko) looked impressive when he stepped back into the ring against former title contender Chris “The Hitman” Avalos (27-8, 20ko) on July 21. This is the first time the former champion has been in the ring since suffering a crushing knockout defeat to Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (31-1, 27ko) back in May 2019.
NEW TRAINER BETTER FIGHTER
However, besides being in a new division there was also a new look in the corner of Royal Storm. Veteran trainer Barry Hunter had the former champion on point, and you could tell the difference immediately.
From round one, there was a difference in the fighting style of the 5’4 hard puncher from Ghana. In the eight-rounder, the former champion was building everything off the jab followed by crisp shots to the body; combination punches became the theme of the entire fight.
Royal Storm fought using more footwork switching from offense to defense, and listening to the instructions of the new trainer. We saw a more relaxed and disciplined boxer that never lost control of the fight going into the closing round.
Feeling that a statement was needed, Dogboe came out in the final round looking for the stoppage. The former champion went into full attack mode, listening to the instructions from the corner. In the closing minutes, Royal Storm threw a brutal three-punch combination; a right uppercut, the overhand right, then ending with a short, compact left hook.
Finally, after landing another hard combination, double hooks to the body ending with a short compact left hook landed Avalos in trouble. The former champion landed one more hard overhand right that prompted the ref jumped in to stop the fight.
FORMER FOES COULD COME INTO PLAY
Although it was clear Avalos was taking punishment, some felt the stoppage still was perhaps premature. Nonetheless, the new trainer made a difference, and this was an excellent confidence builder for Dogboe. Ironically, two of his foes will trade hands for the vacant featherweight championship.
Jessie Magdaleno (28-1,18ko), who suffered his first career defeat against Royal Storm, will go up against the man that handed the Ghanaian fighter back to back losses in Emanuel Navarrete. With all three men in the same division and a title at stake, this has all the ingredients of being something special. To top it all off, there is nobody better at making a three-way triangle fight than legendary promoter Bob Arum.
Magdaleno himself has stated he wants a rematch with the Ghanian fighter at featherweight, where he feels more natural and without being weight drained.Dogboe has stated he sees himself winning another championship and with new trainer Hunter in his corner, imagine how a fight with Navarrete would look now.
The featherweight division is about to heat up, and the boxing community could be in for a treat.
By: Garrisson Bland
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