Isaac Dogboe planning fall return, will “definitely” fight by year’s end

Former super bantamweight champion Isaac Dogboe notched his first win since August 2018 last week with a 10th-round finish of well-worn veteran Chris Avalos, and “Royal Storm” wants to keep the momentum going. Top Rank’s Carl Moretti tells The Ring that Dogboe will “probably” return to action “by October or November,” and definitely before 2021.

Dogboe says he wants to shake off some rust and get better accustomed to the 126-pound division.

“I’m still in fighting shape, I just have to keep the momentum going,” said Dogboe (21-2, 15 knockouts). “I just have to keep familiarizing myself with the weight and in the ring as well. After a long time out of the ring, you get rusty.” Asked whom he’d like to face next, Dogboe replied, “That’s a decision that has to be taken on by my team.”

The 25-year-old still has plenty of lingering questions about his fighting future. Smashing Avalos is all well and good, but “The Hitman” is now 2-6 with five knockout losses in his last eight. It remains to be seen whether the 5’4” Dogboe will be able to make his bruising style work against credible featherweights, especially after the unnecessary punishment he took against Emanuel Navarrete.