London 2012: Shoulder operation rocks Anthony Ogogo bid
- Published
Ogogo won Commonwealth silver last October
Anthony Ogogo has suffered a setback in his pursuit of Olympic qualification after undergoing shoulder surgery.
The 22-year-old middleweight was forced to receive treatment after aggravating a long-term injury during last month's World Amateur Championships.
Recovery can take up to a year, but the Lowestoft-born boxer needs to be fit in time for qualifiers in April.
"I do tend to recover quite quickly from injuries because of my dedication," he told .
"I'm three-and-a-half weeks post op and I'm in the gym strengthening my legs and abs to help me heal quicker.
"The surgeon said it went really well. I just have to let nature take its course and let my shoulder heal.
"Nobody's given me any assurances but I'm a mentally strong guy."
Ogogo felt the effects of the problematic left shoulder when he failed to beat Esquiva Falcao Florentino in the last 16 in Azerbaijan.
Victory over the Brazilian would have guaranteed him a place at London 2012, but April's European Qualification Tournament in Turkey is now his only hope.
"The Olympic Games are the be-all and end-all to me," he said. "So I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure I'm in the best shape.
"In the meantime I'll do everything possible to ensure it is better by January or February so I can have two solid months of training."