Juarez-Dogboe set for 122lb interim title

Cesar Juarez (20-5, 15 KOs), a junior featherweight contender, had been in mandatory challenger position for Jessie Magadaleno’s 122lb world title, but their Nov. 11th fight had been nixed when Magdaleno pulled out of the bout with a wrist injury. So now Juarez, 26, will face Isaac Dogboe (17-0, 11 KOs) this weekend for the WBO’s vacant interim title.

The fight will be held in Dogboe’s home country of Ghana, and Juarez tells ESPN that he couldn’t care less about fighting in his opponent’s backyard — so long as he’s getting a shot a world title.

“This is nothing new for me. I was never in the hands of a promoter that protected me, so I know that I have to go in there and look for the knockout from the first bell to the last as I want no surprises with a bad decision. I am ready for war, and that’s what I want to deliver to the fans, a fight that they will remember for a long time.”

Juarez is most recently coming off a three fight winning streak since dropping a split decision to Giovanni Delgado in early 2016, and losing his first shot at a world title against Nonito Donaire in December 2015.

Dogboe, 23, is coming off a stoppage win over Javier Chacon last July and has remained undefeated through 17 fights — despite not having taken on a top level opponent thus far.

Full titleholder Jessie Magadaleno is expected to eventually be ordered to face the winner of Juarez-Dogboe, although he first might receive a get-well fight on a Top Rank ESPN card targeted for March 10.