Dogboe: Otake can't stand in the way of my dream

Ghana's undefeated WBO World super bantamweight champion, Isaac "Royal Storm," Dogboe says Japanese pugilist, Hidenori Otake, cannot stand in the way of his dream of unifying the world bantamweight titles.

Dogboe (19-0, 13 KOs) makes his first title defence against the Japanese on Saturday, August 25, and he is keen on taking his opponent out in order to get his wish of unifying the super bantamweight division by fighting other champions at 122 pounds.

Having destroyed Jessie Magdaleno to earn an 11th round technical knockout victory on April 28, in Pennsylvania to win the WBO strap, Dogboe will mount the ring to make his first defence of the belt against Otake (31-2-3, 14 KOs) in Arizona.

Speaking in an interview with fighters.com, the 23-year-old Ghanaian said he will be ready to take up a fight with either WBC and WBA world super bantamweight champions, Ray Vargas or Daniel Roman in a unification fight after successfully defending his crown against Otake.

"We are looking to unify the division, and right now Otake is the one guy standing in the way. We have to take him out and then look forward to Roman, Vargas…these guys.

"I’m looking forward to taking on any of them any day. They just need to sign the contract and step up to the plate. It’s all about the best fighting the best. That’s what causes boxing to be great. When you think about Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, these people…they lit up boxing. All these great names, we want to go down as one of the great fighters to come out of boxing," he said.

The 37-year-old Otake is also keen to claim a world title and he is ready to prove that age does not matter in realising one's dream.

He said of the fight:"In capturing the world title for my first time on August 25, I'd like to show everyone that age does not matter. Since comments can reveal strategy, I can't say any more."

However, the Japanese seems to be aware of everything that the outspoken champion Dogboe has said about him, and in reaction, told boxingscene: “I’ll be the one to get the knockout, and I will do it in enemy territory.


“I understand that this is my last chance at a title shot. I don’t feel any pressure about this fact but am instead motivated.” Read Full Story