Dennis Hogan sets his sights on Irish light middleweight title

HE holds a World ranking and made American inroads with victory Stateside last week, but Dennis Hogan is keen for more domestic honours.

The Australian light middleweight title is keen to challenge for the Irish version of the strap and fight in Ireland for the first time as a professional.

Dee ‘Waldo’ Walsh fights Terry Maughan for one of the most fought for Irish belts in recent times this coming Saturday and the winner is mandated to fight against the Oz based Kildare native.

After his American debut win over Jose Miguel Rodriguez Berrio last Thusday night Hogan told Irish-boxing.com he has no personal vendetta with any Irish pugilist, but stressed a desire to fight whoever is in possession of the green belt most recently held by Lee Murtagh and Peter McDonagh.

“I want to box back here  in America in January. That is a possibility and was talked about after the win. I want to show the Americans more of what I can do and hopefully I get a fight with someone who doesn’t want to hug me to death and will fight,” said Hogan.

 “Also I am always keen to fight for the Irish light middleweight title regardless of who is holding the title. I don’t call out out individual boxers like some other people. I just beat them so if a fight in Ireland happens next year I would love that, as my big goal is to fight at home for the first time as a pro. If the fights are there I’m keen regardless of who holds the belt.”

Hogan’s American debut was bitter sweet. He was delighted to get a win in the Big Apple but was a little disappointed in the manner it was achieved. The WBA Oceanic title holder wanted to register a stoppage win over veteran Jose Miguel Rodriguez Berrio. The Columbian, however literally spoilt Hogan’s plans and was disqualified before he could be stopped.

“I started nice and fast and caught him with some big big punches in the first round. I knew I hurt him badly and after that he just kept holding on. He did all he  could to keep hold me. I kept pushing him off and catching him time and time again, but all he was interested was surviving and he didn’t want to fight,” Hogan added.

“I was very disappointed the fight was called early due to him holding as I felt I  was getting close to knocking him out.”

On major plus was the reception Hogan got Stateside. He had big support in every sense of the word in New York.

“I was very happy with the reception. Considering I never fought outside of Australia professionally it was amazing to see the support turn out like that. To have people fly over from Ireland and Australia was very humbling too. I  had an amazing timeover here the Irish American are amazing and really got behind me.”