By Pablo Fletes, notifight.com
Cuban lightweight Richard Abril is training hard for his upcoming fight with Sharif Bogere, scheduled for March 2 in New York City. The fight between Abril (17-3-1, 8 KOs) and Bogere (23-0, 13KOs) will battle for the WBA's lightweight championship. Showtime will televise the contest.
"Richard has been training for this fight," said Abril's coach Osmiri "El Moro" Fernandez. "We were worried about the postponement of the fight because of the injury Bogere suffered, but Richard was not discouraged and is very motivated to win in the first defense of his [interim] crown," he added.
They were scheduled to fight last November, but Bogere injured his Achilles tendon and the fight had to be moved to March. After Bogere was injured, there were discussions for Abril to face Adrien Broner for the WBC title. But those plans changed. Abril is still willing to face Broner, but he also wants revenge against Brandon Rios, who won a controversial decision over Abril last April.
"First we were told that Richard would fight Adrien Broner, but then the opponent changed. We do not care, Richard is ready to face any fighter in the world at 135 pounds," said Ricardo Rizzo," advisor to Abril's promoter, Dream Team.
"Moreover, he would face Brandon Rios in a rematch. We would not mind agreeing to that fight at 140 pounds, because Richard is a fighter who would do well in that division."
