Hogan: St Patrick’s Day in the Irish Club? Brown might as well be the away fighter

‘Big Bad’ Leroy Brown might as well be coming to St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge to try and take the Australian title off Denis Hogan on Sunday morning, says the Kildare native himself.

The middleweight champion of Australia puts his strap on the line in Brisbane in a televised dust up with the Aussie.

However, despite the fight taking place over 17,000 miles away from Ireland, Hogan believes the pair may as well be trading leather in Kildare. The undefeated Queensland based operator, who tops a bill that includes ‘Shamrock Express’ Stevie Kelly and former Prizefighter contestant Joe Rea, claims Patrick’s weekend in the Irish club will ensure a Lions Den type atmosphere for Brown.

“Even with the Australian title on the line the show still has a very St Patrick’s Day feel to it. Leroy Brown is coming to the Irish Club to fight a Irishman on St Patrick’s Day. he is faced with a packed house full with Irish so he really is coming into the lions den,” Hogan told Irish-boxing.com.

“Fair play to him he’s taking the challenge and I think that will have motivated him to be bringing the best performance of his career, there’s no way he took this lightly so it’s game on Sunday.

“Training has been top notch, I have reached a new level of fitness and stepped my game up again, so I’m confident I will have the tools to do the job on Sunday and look forward to bringing my best performance yet to a packed house in the Irish club!”

Hogan certainly isn’t under estimating his opponent for the Sunday matinee and has studied him well.

“I am expecting Brown to be very strong and awkward. He has a fast jab and and a very tight guard, so I will have to be very smart. I won’t  be wasting shots and energy on his guard which he would like and I will be strategic with getting threw with my shots while keeping a good distance from his counters”

Since claiming the Australian title Hogan’s career has gathered serious momentum, he has topped TV cards and admits he has noticed a difference in all aspects of his career.

“There’s definitely a big change in everything since I won the National title, but I look at with gratitude and keep my feet firmly on the ground. This is still only the start and I will be keeping this mentality until I reach my ultimate goal of world champion. I’m Irish and I would love to fight for the Irish title. That would be excellent for me but it will have to fit in with our plans. I will be hoping a deal gets made, there has been talks!!!”