On the Cusp: 10 fighters poised to make major breakthroughs in 2012

SHARIF BOGERE
Weight class: Lightweight
Age: 23
Record: 21-0 (13 KOs)
Region: Las Vegas (from Uganda)
Skinny: The good news is that Bogere showed the character of a seasoned pro out-pointing tough veteran Raymundo Beltran over 10 rough-and-tumble rounds with a badly cut eye in May, and then displayed relentless aggression and power en route to scoring a third-round KO of fellow undefeated prospect Francisco Contreras in October. The bad news is that his two ShoBox: The New Generation main events were controversial. Some viewers believed Beltran deserved the nod in their closely contested bout. And fans as well as Showtime’s commentators were split on whether his KO of Contreras came from a legit punch or from a blow to the back of the head. If Bogere, who is trained by decorated coach Ken Adams, can consistently combine the guile he used to beat Beltran and the aggression he showed against Contreras, he will transcend the controversy and emerge as a contender in 2012.
Strengths: Athletic ability… good footwork… solid power… willingness to face dangerous opposition… flair for showmanship.
Weaknesses: Short for a lightweight (barely standing 5-foot-6)… inconsistent style.