Size Matters – Dennis Hogan breaks down Jermall Charlo defeat

Dennis Hogan [28(7)-3(1)-1] found out size really does matter in Brooklyn on Saturday night.

The Kildare fighter took the brave decision to step up to middleweight when a WBC world title fight was put on the table – and while he isn’t the type to have regrets he now knows his home is at 154lbs.

Speaking backstage in the Barclays Center not long after he suffered stoppage defeat on the Showtime broadcast headliner, the honest 34-year-old admitted he struggled with the size and power of American Jermall Charlo [30(22)-0].

The Australian based fighter, who prides himself on his chin and durability was sent to the canvas twice in the fight and admitted he was shocked by ‘The Hitman’s’ power.

The DDP fighter explains the champ packed the kind of punch he was never exposed to at light middle.

“We were boxing and going for it, but you could just feel that strength,” Hogan said.

“That strength is just something you don’t feel in the 154lbs division. It was different and those times he caught me were light lightening, both times he caught me I was like ‘wow’.”

Hogan was somber after his second successive world title reverse, but not overly upset.

While the Mexican injustice in April was hard to fathom, the Glenn Rushton trained fighter could find logic in Saturday’s reverse.

“That was brand new to me and I am OK with it. I know I have to get back down to 154lbs and pursue my dream of being world champion there.”

Hindsight allows some to suggest Hogan should have waited it out at light middle for another title tilt rather than jump up to 160lbs.

However, having had to wait over a year as WBO #1 before getting a shot at Jaime Munguia, the two time world title challenger felt he wasn’t in a position to turn down a world title shot on such a platform.

“When this opportunity came originally I was like do I really want to be doing this, but if you get a straight world title fight you take it,” he added before explaining the thinking behind taking the risk.

“If you get an eliminator somewhere else who knows how long that could take. Even if your mandatory you could be waiting a year or a year and a half. I didn’t know if I wanted to wait around when you can get offered a shot in 15 weeks. I dared to be great.”

Hogan was impressed with the performance of the American. The former Australian champion admitted Charlo’s approach also surprised him.

“This fight I knew was always going to be hard for the first six rounds. I thought he would start to gas a little bit and I thought I’d get on top, obviously still working the game plan, but he came in very smart.

“There is stuff he did in that fight that he didn’t do in previous fights and he said afterward he did that specifically for me because of my movement. I must say all props to Charlo, he did very well. He is a phenomenal athlete and I can see why he has problems getting big fights in the 160 division.”