Ex-boxer Jamie Bogovic fronts court over arson and theft charges

Hand-picked by Aussie boxing great Jeff Fenech, a former Victoria pugilist burnt down his father’s house while his family was grieving the loss of a loved one.

Former boxer Jamie Bogovic set fire to his father’s house in Narre Warren while his family was mourning the loss of his grandmother.

A former star boxer mentored by one of Australia’s greatest fighters in Jeff Fenech has admitted setting fire to his father’s house while his family was grieving the loss of a relative.

Jamie Bogovic, 35, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Tuesday to arson, theft and trespass and has been remanded in custody until May 17.

The court is looking at the Court Integrated Services Programme (CISP) to determine what other help is available for Bogovic as jail and community corrections orders have not worked in the past.

Bogovic was hand-picked by Fenech in 2015 and, at that point, the former had won all of his six bouts. His ring motto was “train hard and win easy” and believed he had the makings of a world champion during his prime.

But his career crashed when, during a break from training, he started using ice and what followed was a string of criminal offending.

Jamie Bogovic at training during his prime days as a boxer.

He was living with Tony Levanic and Roy Levanic at his father’s Narre Warren house when he set fire to it on the evening of April 22, 2023.

Earlier that day, Tony Levanic observed Bogovic in an anxious and agitated state in the kitchen following notification that his elderly grandmother had died.

At 7.40pm he was observed on CCTV walking towards his home and once inside, he poured petrol throughout the living area and set it alight before leaving the house.

About half an hour later, a man called 000 after observing Bogovic running on the street and jumping fences of neighbouring properties.

His father and sister arrived home to see the house on fire while Bogovic continued to act in an erratic state.

He ran past firefighters, ripped open a side gate and stated ‘let’s go, hurry up, the house is on fire. Pull the f---ing gate and go in.” He suggested that he wanted to help. A police officer attempted to reason with him and to get him to sit down and when advised that he’d be handcuffed, he stood up and ran away.

Roy Levanic at the back of the house which was set on fire by former boxer Jamie Bogovic. Picture: Athos Sirianos

At 3.45am the next day, he returned to the scene and was seen on CCTV hiding behind shrubs while police investigations were ongoing.

The fire extensively damaged the rear half of the house, most of the roof structure in the rear living room had collapsed.

The theft and trespass charges relate to him nicking bottles of Crown Lager from an outdoor fridge at a neighbouring property.