Former WBC International middleweight, and SA and WBF super middleweight champion William Gare. Photo: Antonio Muchave
South Africa’s Former World Boxing Federation World Super Middleweight Champion William Gare claims to have found new motivation ahead of his WBF Intercontinental title-challenge against reigning champion Juergen Doberstein in Saarbruecken, Germany, on September 7.
Winning the WBF World title in December 2010, he, due to various circumstances, never got the opportunity to defend his crown, and frustration lead him to take less than ideal assignments.
He lost decisions to fellow South African, and highly touted, Thomas Oosthuizen and top-class Columbian Alexander Brand, and his future in the ring started to look bleak.
A veteran of 43 pro fights and a career spanning nineteen years, and despite the fact that he proved he could still compete at top-level against Oosthuizen and Brand, he was prepared to start over and work his way back to the top.
Gare first held the South African national title between 1999 and 2002, and again between 2004 and 2006 before becoming a three-time champion in 2007.
One could easily say he has “been there, done that”, but the 38-year-old from Gauteng saw a crack at S.A. Super Middleweight Champion Balimo Weliya as an ideal way back into world championship contention, if victorious.
However, such opportunity was not to be and retirement eventually seemed a viable option for Gare.
“I did contemplate quitting the sport, but that was driven by sheer frustration because my chances of challenging Weliya looked slim”, Gare recently told South African media.
“But then God caused a miracle and I was offered the fight in Germany against Doberstein. My motivation has returned, and I plan on making the most of it.” – WBF
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