BoxRec

London Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo has not given up on his lifelong goal of becoming a middleweight world champion - despite not having fought in two years.

Ogogo suffered a fractured eye socket in his bout with Craig Cunningham in October 2016 in what was his 12th fight as a professional.

And despite having undergone five operations - three of which have seen him travel to America for surgery - in the intervening period, the 29-year-old remains positive that he can still climb the heights in the ring.



"If I can achieve my dream and get back in the boxing ring and become world champion, that in itself gives so much inspiration to so many people around the country and world,” said Ogogo, who recently appeared on Channel 4 reality television show Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls.

“I've been very down. I've had to remortgage my house to pay for different surgeries in America. It's been really, really tough.

"I've trained my absolute backside off to become world champion. I'm not going to let a doctor tell me what I can and can't do."

After claiming middleweight bronze at London 2012, Ogogo turned pro and looked to be acquitting himself well as he won his first 11 fights, seven of them by knockout.

But he faced up against Birmingham’s Cunningham in his first title shot at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, and was pulled by his corner in the eighth round, suffering from blurred vision as he challenged for the WBC International middleweight strap.

And it is only now, with the benefit of hindsight, that Ogogo can appreciate the gravity of that fight, and the resulting injury.

"Ultimately, I could've died that night in the boxing ring," he continued.

"My eyes were literally pointing in different directions. I was being hit with punches I didn't know were coming.”

His injury was much worse than Brooks.

Was only watching him on that island survival show last week and you could tell he had something wrong with his eye, cant see him ever being back in a ring.

Good luck to him,seems like a nice lad,can't imagine him boxing again to be honest.

The guy speaks very well. You don’t have to have been a World champion to be a good pundit.

I think punditry or commentary is the way he should go. If the doctors are telling him he shouldn’t box again I don’t think I want to see it.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Oct 2018, 08:44 His injury was much worse than Brooks.

And boxing Craig Cunningham !!

Can’t imagine the Board sanctioning him fighting.

Can't see it now. Good luck to him seemed like a tidy boxer.just think time passes u by.ithought John Joe neven would be the next Irish man to hold a real world title . Stuff changes

brilo33 wrote: ↑13 Oct 2018, 11:41 Can't see it now. Good luck to him seemed like a tidy boxer.just think time passes u by.ithought John Joe neven would be the next Irish man to hold a real world title . Stuff changes

Neven has been a bloody waste so far too.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Oct 2018, 11:42

brilo33 wrote: ↑13 Oct 2018, 11:41 Can't see it now. Good luck to him seemed like a tidy boxer.just think time passes u by.ithought John Joe neven would be the next Irish man to hold a real world title . Stuff changes

Neven has been a bloody waste so far too.

that's what Iam getting at

brilo33 wrote: ↑13 Oct 2018, 11:45

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Oct 2018, 11:42

brilo33 wrote: ↑13 Oct 2018, 11:41 Can't see it now. Good luck to him seemed like a tidy boxer.just think time passes u by.ithought John Joe neven would be the next Irish man to hold a real world title . Stuff changes

Neven has been a bloody waste so far too.

that's what Iam getting at

I was saying after 2012 who was gonna make it ogogo was a nice boxer . But I thought nevin after the campbell would be a world champ .but then went got his leg broke

nevin , a euro am champion and olympic runner up, fought on pink tysons youtube undercard.....thats just sad

jamamb wrote: ↑13 Oct 2018, 22:42 nevin , a euro am champion and olympic runner up, fought on pink tysons youtube undercard.....thats just sad

Well, yes and no.
I always think that about skillfull musicians playing hotel lobby’s, but when all is said and done they are still professional musicians.

Even if he could get back to 100%; he never seemed very good as a pro anyway.

He should stay retired.

He seems like a really lovely bloke, and I respect him for coming back after numerous setbacks.

But I wasnt convinced by him after he turned pro. Like others have said he is a tidy boxer but I dont think he had the ability before the injuries to mix it at world level, let alone now.

I wish him the best though and hope his drive and determination doesnt hurt him.

Nice guy and very brave of him if he does come back. His biggest problem is that he's not good enough to be a world champion. He turned pro in 2013 and hasn't beaten anyone of note and got stopped by Craig Cunningham. His health is more important and that eye will not hold up.

There's no way he will get back into the ring as a fighter imo. His eye is all over the show, at times on the celebrity island his eye wpuld be looking off camera whilst he was talking. Even with glasses on he had a massive wonky eye.

Always struck me as a man more interested in being a celebrity than a fighter. Even as an amateur he was taking time off to do reality shows. Didn't have much as a pro and obviously isn't good enough to win a British title, even without the injury. I think he should retire and trade off his bronze medal, he's got the face TV commissioners are looking for these days.

He won’t fight again.

No chance

Boxing is a cruel way to a living. I wish him well. It’s going to be hard though and that’s if he’s fit to box.

Thought he came across very well on the island - smart, funny, elequant so there should be plenty of work out there for him. Hopefully he can call a fight or do a decent analysis.

My missus did ask me on week 1 - what’s wrong with that fellas eye. Doesn’t look good unless there is a one eyed middleweight division we don’t know about.

I thought he was incredibly lucky to get his bronze at the Olympics. However, I don't think you can deny his talent. He was representing Team GB at a time when the boxing had such a strong depth. So even if he was lucky to get Bronze, he was obviously a world class amateur.

I liked how he started at the pros.... there were lots of tests to come, but he seemed to have the style to go far... but then I thought the same of Ohara Davies. It is all about levels and I don't think anyone can really say how far he would have gone.

I wish him well.

littlepug wrote: ↑13 Oct 2018, 08:47 Was only watching him on that island survival show last week and you could tell he had something wrong with his eye, cant see him ever being back in a ring.

Here here, hope he stays away

I'm not too sure about Ogogo, he seems more intend on being a celebrity than becoming a world-class boxer. Too many appearances on talk shows / reality shows and whatnot for my liking.

I've even seen him on breakfast TV talking about others guys fighting...

Not exactly the dedication that one needs to excel in this sport.