BY NADIA NTIAMOAH
Former WBO super bantamweight world champion Isaac Dogboe has opened up about the psychological pressures that come with life as a professional boxer, calling for greater awareness and stronger support systems to protect the mental well-being of athletes.
The Ghanaian boxer, who made history in 2018 by defeating Mexico’s Jessie Magdaleno to become Ghana’s eighth world boxing champion, said the mental demands of the sport can be just as challenging as the physical battles inside the ring.
Dogboe’s career has delivered some of Ghanaian boxing’s most memorable moments, but it has also been accompanied by difficult periods. His back-to-back defeats to Mexican fighter Emmanuel Navarrete resulted in the loss of his world title and presented him with a major personal and professional challenge.
Reflecting on those experiences in an interview with Joy Sports, Dogboe explained that the emotional consequences of defeat can be difficult for boxers to manage because the sport often demands that athletes project an image of toughness regardless of what they may be experiencing internally.
According to the former champion, boxers are constantly expected to demonstrate strength, even when they are struggling emotionally.
“It drives you nuts. Sometimes it’s a little bit deeper than it seems,” Dogboe said, highlighting the intensity of the psychological pressure that athletes can face.
He explained that the culture surrounding boxing can make it particularly difficult for fighters to admit when they are struggling because they are expected to recover quickly and continue presenting themselves as strong competitors.
Dogboe noted that after a difficult fight, a boxer can be left dealing with thoughts about previous performances while simultaneously worrying about the next bout. These pressures, he said, can become even more complicated when combined with family responsibilities.
“When you’re hurt, you have to get up and act like you’re okay,” he said.
The former champion also pointed to the difficulty athletes face in finding people with whom they can openly discuss their emotional struggles.
“It’s difficult to find someone to talk to through all of this because you’re constantly thinking about your previous fights, your next bout…so many things running through your mind,” Dogboe explained.
