Las Vegas based professional Sharif “The Lion” Bogere, will take a while before getting back to the ring after completing his treatment of a nagging Achilles injury.
Bogere sustained his injury in March while fighting against Cuban Richard Abril while contesting for the World Boxing Association World lightweight title.
However the Ugandan boxer decided to forgo traditional treatment — surgery — in favor of an experimental one that, until 2011, was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency: platelet-rich plasma, also called PRP or blood spinning.
“I never heard of this before,” Jimmy Alex, his manager told the Las Vegas Review Journal. “I say if it will help, let’s try it. It’s better than surgery.”
The tried-and-true treatment for Achilles tendinitis is surgical repair, said Dr. Troy Watson, an orthopedic surgeon at Desert Orthopaedic Center. The recovery takes almost a year. But PRP, which isn’t invasive like surgery, can help speed recovery. Some patients may return to normal activity within a few weeks.
The boxing hot shot had a PRP injection in March and wore a boot for a month, but his mobility returned, however he still felt pain and recently went for another injection.
“I am staying positive and taking thinks easy,” Bogere said. “Insha Allah I will recover and return to the top of my game.”
Several pro athletes, including Tiger Woods, Hines Ward and Carmelo Anthony, have received PRP for various injuries. That has increased interest among the public.