No Fear – Dennis Hogan wants World Champ Jaime Munguia next

DDP Promotions want Dennis Hogan [27(7)-1(0)-1] to challenge Jaime Munguia in Australia and are confident they have the tools to promote a successful world title card.

Munguia [30(25)-0] retained his WBO light middleweight title over the weekend, following up his destructive dethroning of Sadam Ali with a convincing – albeit competitive – points win over Liverpool’s Liam Smith in his first defence.

The 21-year-old Mexican has now earned the right to make a voluntary defence, but DDP, who promote leading contender Hogan want the champion next and hope to do the fight in Brisbane.

“We would love to bring Munguia here to Brisbane which is an option for us,” Australian-based Dublin promoter Paul Keegan told Irish-Boxing.com. 

“We are looking at all options. Dennis will travel if we have to but to fight for a world title in the city he made his pro debut would be special.”

Kildare’s Hogan has been waiting patiently for his shot and may have to wait a bit longer.

‘The Hurricane’ felt he was in touching distance of a tilt late last year but plans to fight Smith for the title went out the window when Ali upset Miguel Cotto, who was set to vacate and retire had he retained the title last December.

With Ali then seeing his mandatory defence with Smith scuppered due to an allergic reaction suffered by the challenger, Munguia would steal in, win the belt, and then finally fulfil the mandatory obligation on Saturday just gone.

Hogan has since gone on to fight Jimmy Kelly, to make it two WBO top 10 fighters back to back following a previous win over Yuki Nonaka, in a bid to cement his status as mandatory.

However, the fact the undefeated six-foot champ can now take a voluntary means what is next is up to Team Mungiua.

“We have to see how the cards land this week,” Keegan continued.

“We have publicly said we are ready to be next . We want it , Dennis wants it it depends if Team Munguia want it. He has a voluntary now so he can pick anyone from the top 15.”

The Mexican’s recent wins have seen him emerge as a potential star and there has been suggestions that the reigning Ring Magazine Prospect of the Year may be built as a possible foe for Saul Canelo Alvarez down the line.

The huge-for-the-weight puncher certainly has talent but his difficulty in defeating Smith has seen the hype train slow ever so slightly and Hogan’s promoters are adamant there man has the tools to dethrone the titleholder.

“Listen, Munguia is a fantastic fighter we would be stupid to say otherwise but we believe, and Dennis believes, he has the tools to beat him. Others will say otherwise but that’s not our concern.”

‘How does he make the weight?’ was the most common question asked with regard to Munguia after he took apart the noticeably smaller Ali earlier this year.

There are those who claim the big light middleweight will have to move up to 160lbs relatively soon. Keegan himself doesn’t believe that transition will take place in the near future but remains clear Hogan is next in line for the title regardless.

“I don’t believe he will move up just yet, that’s just my opinion. I believe he wants a few title defenses then he wants to move up but I am just guessing as I’m sure his team have a clear plan for him.”

“Unfortunately for them, we are sitting at the front of the queue.”

If 33-year-old Hogan once again has to show patience, DDP will look to keep him active and ensure he is ready for when the inevitable shot arrives.

“If they decide not to take on Dennis, then Dennis wants to be active. He doesn’t want to be sitting around waiting, so our first priority is to get a world title shot our second is to keep active and stay in the top spot till early 2019.”