Photo and story by David Finger

The first press conference for the highly anticipated WBO international super bantamweight championship featuring Accra, Ghana’s own Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe (16-0, 10 KOs) took place today at the Airport View Hotel in Accra, Ghana. Perhaps the biggest news out of the press conference was confirmation of one important development. The original opponent for the July 22nd WBO international fight, Argentina’s Claudio Fernando Echegaray (17-0-1, 9 KOs), was scrapped in favor of fellow Argentinian Javier Nicholas Chacon (25-3-1, 7 KOs).

Interestingly enough, many fans found the new opponent to be more of a challenge to the young upstart. Echegaray, though undefeated, was considered somewhat of an unknown and untested fighter.

However Chacon is a seasoned professional who fought for the WBA bantamweight title back in 2014 against Jamie McDonnell. Since the loss to McDonnell Chacon has gone undefeated in six fights, including a draw with Roberto Domingo Sosa (28-3-1) for the WBO Latino belt in July of 2015.

“July 22nd, that is our final hurdle to a world title,” Isaac Dogboe told the media during the press conference. “It’s not an easy challenge however we appreciate a challenge. My team and I, we are very hopeful and we believe: no risk, no reward. Therefore we appreciate the challenge and that the WBO approved of Chacon.”

The fight between the WBO #4 ranked Isaac Dogboe and Chacon is billed as a WBO eliminator, with rumblings that if Dogboe emerges victorious he may be fighting for the WBO world title in his next fight. Despite the added significance of the July 22nd fight in Accra, Dogboe remained confident of victory, and promised the media that bigger things were in store for boxing in Ghana, including the aforementioned world title fight.

“We believe once I demolish Javier Chacon, we are in line for a world title. Ghana hasn’t had a world title fight in over thirty years or so, and this will be an opportunity to bring Vegas to Ghana.”

The July 22nd Rising Star Africa Promotions show will take place at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana with the first of five undercard fight slated to kick off at 6pm. Tickets start at GH¢20 with VIP going for GH¢300.