Jimmy Kelly open to Dennis Hogan final eliminator

Jimmy Kelly [23(9)-1(1)] believes he will be WBO light middleweight champion by the time 2018 is out and claims he is open to going through Dennis Hogan to get his shot.

Kildare native Hogan [26(7)-1(0)-1] turned down a fight with Kell Brook in a bid to secure a World title eliminator and is hoping to fight one of two top five ranked opponents in a Brisbane this April.

With Liam Smith set to fight Sadam Ali for the crown, the WBO #4 believes if he secures a clash with one of Magomed Kurbanov or Kelly the youngest of the respected four organisations will grant the fight final eliminator status.

Hogan’s promoters DDP Sports are rumoured to have courted interest from Russian Kurbanov, but speaking to Irish-Boxing.com Paul Keegan claimed Kelly’s UK profile and Irish background makes him the preferred option.

Kelly himself claims they have yet to receive an offer from the young promotional outfit, but told Irish-Boxing.com that he would be willing to travel Down Under to trade leather with the Hurricane if the price was right.

“I’m open to any fight. I wont ever turn down any opponent. I say get the money right to match the risk and I am there,” said the Manchester-born fighter of Carlow and Kilkenny stock.

“I have spoken to my management MTK about it. Our teams met in November regarding the fight. Dennis’s team never made an offer.”

Regardless of a potential Hogan fight, the 25 year old is confident he is close to a second World title shot.

In fact he hinted exciting news may just be around the corner before suggesting if he does get a 2018 tilt he will go one better than when he lost to Liam Smith back in December 2015 on the same card where Andy Lee lost his WBO middleweight title to Billy Joe Saunders.

“We are close to announcing our next move. I feel I am close to a WBO shot. This year will definitely bring one. I fought.for it as a 22 year old kid with a bad elbow. I’m 25 now, I’m a father and it would be a different story now. On my night I beat anybody,” Kelly continued before suggesting there was no bad blood between him and Hogan.

“There was no online chatter. He tagged me in a post saying he wants to fight me, I said cool, make me an offer. He hasn’t. The show goes on.”