Junior welterweight Sharif “The Lion” Bogere, has withdrawn from his title eliminator fight with Michael Perez on July 11 at the Sports Arena, in Los Angeles, California, after picking up a calf strain injury during training ahead of this HBO Latino televised fight.
“I picked up a calf strain injury ahead of the fight in training and I have decided to pull out of the fight,” a dejected Bogere said in a message. “I won’t be able to heal quickly and that is a very disappointing moment for me, my team, fans and trainer.”
The fight promoters Golden Boy Promotions have now replaced the Ugandan prize fighter with Mexico’s Luiz Sanchez as a late replacement in a title fight which would have led to the winner vying for the vacant World Boxing Organisation lightweight title belt.
The fight is is a co-feature of the 10-round main event, junior welterweight contender Mauricio Herrera (21-5, 7 KOs) will face “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy (25-4-1, 12 KOs) in what appears to be a toss-up fight.
Bogere, suffered a similar injury in 2013 when he face-off with Cuban Richar Abril for the WBA World lightweight title fight and had to under-go surgery to cure his long term injury however it looks like the injury has recurred again.