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By Cliff Rold - Could it really have gone much different?
This Saturday night, 30-year old Lightweight Richard Abril (17-3-1, 8 KO) will face undefeated 24-year old Sharif Bogere (23-0, 15 KO) with the WBA belt on the line. They were supposed to fight late last year but a Bogere injury delayed the bout.
Eleven months ago, Abril could already have sealed up the WBA title. He handed Brandon Rios his first loss and was told different by judges Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge. Even if they’d scored what most of those who saw the fight did, and there really weren’t that many, a fight with Bogere was likely the next point on the map for Abril.
Win this weekend, and he’ll be where he should be and without really losing any traction despite the unfortunate outcome against Rios.
Let’s be honest: Abril isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. His style is educated to be sure, but it’s also awkward, with plenty of clinching and inside work. The showdown with Bogere is not highly anticipated as an action fight.
In other words, Abril is unlikely to ever command super figures at the gate or from television. Boxing loves a winner, but not every winner becomes a star. Even with the Rios win, Abril would have been an unlikely arrival at a big payday. Rios could still have gone on to his excellent scrap with Mike Alvarado and come out with the Abril fight as a quickly forgotten blemish.
It stinks to see a fighter win what for them is a big fight and not get the nod. It stinks a lot worse when it sets a career dramatically off course. [Click Here To Read More]
This Saturday night, 30-year old Lightweight Richard Abril (17-3-1, 8 KO) will face undefeated 24-year old Sharif Bogere (23-0, 15 KO) with the WBA belt on the line. They were supposed to fight late last year but a Bogere injury delayed the bout.
Eleven months ago, Abril could already have sealed up the WBA title. He handed Brandon Rios his first loss and was told different by judges Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge. Even if they’d scored what most of those who saw the fight did, and there really weren’t that many, a fight with Bogere was likely the next point on the map for Abril.
Win this weekend, and he’ll be where he should be and without really losing any traction despite the unfortunate outcome against Rios.
Let’s be honest: Abril isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. His style is educated to be sure, but it’s also awkward, with plenty of clinching and inside work. The showdown with Bogere is not highly anticipated as an action fight.
In other words, Abril is unlikely to ever command super figures at the gate or from television. Boxing loves a winner, but not every winner becomes a star. Even with the Rios win, Abril would have been an unlikely arrival at a big payday. Rios could still have gone on to his excellent scrap with Mike Alvarado and come out with the Abril fight as a quickly forgotten blemish.
It stinks to see a fighter win what for them is a big fight and not get the nod. It stinks a lot worse when it sets a career dramatically off course. [Click Here To Read More]
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