Big Picture Hogan predicts Weetch Knockout ahead of World Title Challenge

Dennis Hogan [27(7)-1(0)-1] has laughed-off claims from upcoming opponent Jamie Weetch that is nervous and has promised to dominate the Welshman this weekend before going on to challenge for World honours in 2019.

Already the WBO light middleweight mandatory challenger, Hogan puts a guaranteed shot at the brown belt on the line on Saturday afternoon at the Brisbane Convention Centre Down Under.

Underdog Weetch [12(5)-2(0)] has upped the ante as fight week has progressed and at the media day yesterday he suggested that, with it ‘All on the Line’ as the card’s title suggests, Hogan is nervous.

The Perth-based puncher pointed to cuts on Hogan’s lips, suggesting the Irishman is becoming increasingly edgy as fight night approaches.

This couldn’t be further from the truth, according to ‘The Hurricane’, who stated that “it’s funny Jamie thinks I have a bit of stress.”

“The truth of it is Aria scrapped me and there is just a bit of a nick there.”

“It’s alright he can think what he likes it’s all a bit a fun for me.”

“She can do more damage than him, no doubt, she is nearly taller than him too.”

“I couldn’t believe it [how small he was], talk about getting your distance, I could stay in the corner and have my distance,” laughed the 33-year-old who is predicting a dominant display against slugger Weetch.

Indeed, while Weetch feels he is all wrong for Hogan, the lilywhite thinks the opposite and Hogan believes he will score his first stoppage in over four-and-a-half years.

“I am not going to go looking for the knockout, but I believe it’s going to happen,” said the Kilcullen fighter.

“We have had all the sparring partners just come forward, come forward, come forward and trained for it constantly. I believe we have done everything and I am 100 percent ready to deal with anything he has.”

“The power I have at the minute and the veracity of my punches, I just feel they are going to land beautiful and, more than likely, it will be an early night.”

“I know Jaime is tough, he is a Welsh boy and obviously this is the fight of his life right now. So I know he is coming with everything there is no doubt about that.”

The fact remains that it is a risky fight for Hogan who could have bided his time and challenged for the belt currently held by Jaime Munguia [31(26)-0] next year.

The Mexican defends against Takeshi Inoue next month with a mandatory due around April or May.

It’s a risk fighting Weetch now rather than waiting for a shot but Hogan, who was last in action in May, believes Saturday night’s fight is crucial to his world title chances.

The Irishman explained how “I am all about the big picture. For the last eight years I have played the long game in terms of being world champion.I have said I would do whatever it takes to become world champion.”

“For me this is another step in the road. This is a fight I will get over, this is a fight I will do what ever I must do to get the win, I will be getting the win and I will progress on.”

“It’s actually good that Jamie Weetch, without looking past him, is a similar style to Jaime Munguia. He comes forward and supposedly he has a bit of power, we have taken that into consideration and developed a gameplan that’s going to suit us for Jaime Munguia too. So for me it’s all about the big picture.”

“I feel like I am the world champion already. I have the skills I am ticking all the boxes and this is just another step in that journey.”

“I’ll give back with a big statement this weekend and I will go on and bring the world championship back here. We really want to get it here. We will do everything we can to get it here and that’s all there is to it.”