EXCLUSIVE
worries
Anthony Ogogo fears the worst for Daniel Dubois after horror injury while revealing extent of own eye problems which continue to affect him
Anthony Ogogo fears the worst for Daniel Dubios’ eye injury but said his decision to take a knee could turn out to be a smart move.
The 23-year-old suffered the horrific injury during his defeat to Joe Joyce on Saturday night, fracturing his eye socket and receiving possible nerve damage.
3
If anyone can sympathise with Dubois’ current situation it is Ogogo.
He was forced to retire from boxing last year, having not fought since 2016, due to an eye injury that required numerous operations.
The 32-year-old offered his help and support to the British heavyweight on Twitter following his defeat, and he again offered himself up during an interview with talkSPORT.
Speaking to White and Jordan, Ogogo said: “I was really gutted for him because I’ve been in a similar situation.
";My heart breaks for the lad and I tweeted him last night saying I’d had nine operations over three years on my eyes.
“I had a very similar injury. It was heart-breaking for me that I lost my career through such an awful circumstance.
“If I can help anybody go through what I went through then I would; even if it’s advice on where to go and what doctors to see, who not to see or just chat.
“When you suffer an injury like that your whole world is up in the air and it’s horrible."
3
When asked if he fears the worst for Dubois, Ogogo added: “Yes. It’s not a broken hand and it’s not straight forward; it’s very tricky to get right.
"It’s the nerve damage which is the more problematic. Fractured eye sockets are quite common in the sport and are quite easily treatable.
“With me, it was the damage to the eyes, the muscle and the nerves which meant I never got back."
Despite suffering his injuries nearly half a decade ago, Ogogo still suffers.
Shortly before his retirement last year he posted a picture on social media showing his eye socket bleeding for no apparent reason, and Ogogo explained to talkSPORT how he continues to be affected.
“My left eye doesn’t move the same as my right eye anymore,"; he continued. "When I move around and assume a boxing position my eyes go all over the place.
"Nerves don’t heal like muscles, they are very slow to heal, if at all.
“That’s why when someone suffers nerve damage it affects their entire life.
"But, fingers crossed... he’s 23, he’s fit and strong and he’ll come back.
“It all depends on how bad that nerve damage is, but I really feel for the kid.”
Dubois has faced criticism from the likes of Dillian Whyte, David Haye and Carl Frampton for ‘quitting’ in the ring by taking a knee.
Ogogo fought on after suffering his eye injury in a 2016 fight with Craig Cunningham and it caused lasting damage.
Although he admitted he would not quit in the ring, the now retired boxer believes Dubois’ decision could be the best thing for his career in the long run.
3
He said: “It’s a tough one. Somebody asked me yesterday on Twitter and said what did I think on the situation. I said my heart goes out to him, people shouldn’t be talking about what he did in the ring. In my opinion, the experts, and I’m friends with David (Haye) and Carl (Frampton), their own concerns should be on him.
“If you break a hand and you can’t fight for a while, that sucks, but eventually your hand gets better and you can carry on boxing again.
“But when you damage your eye, like I did, it doesn’t just affect your career it affects your life.
LATEST SPORT NEWS
“I don’t know if he quit or not. Somebody asked me if I’d have quit then I’d still have a career. Maybe that’s true but going down to my knee isn’t in my makeup. I live by the sword and die by the sword.
“Hopefully the nerve damage is treatable and he can get back into the ring. ‘Quitting’ or taking a knee was a wise decision because he’s 23 and got 10-15 years of boxing ahead of him.
“Maybe that was the right thing and maybe me carrying on boxing in 2016 was the wrong thing and my career ended. You don’t know.
“Hopefully in five years' time we can look back and say if it’s the right or wrong thing. My only concern is for him, his mental and physical wellbeing.
“Dubois will come back if he’s okay and have a long, successful career. Maybe taking a knee was the right thing.
Frank Warren says 2021 is 'the year of Joe Joyce' but defends Daniel Dubois and insists he didn't 'quit' as others are claiming
“When I fought Cunningham in 2016, I didn’t know I was getting hit until I got hit, so I couldn’t see the punches coming.
“They are the punches that can render you unconscious, cause brain damage or kill you.
"People forget and say he quit but maybe that was the smart decision he’s made and he’ll come back bigger and better and I wish him the best in his future.”
Topics