HOGAN’S LIVING THE DREAM
The Kilcullen boxer can fulfil a lifelong ambition next weekend
PADDY Bourke always told his grandson that he would be more suited to professional boxing. He had a great chin and as a longtime observer of the sport, Bourke knew that could take you a long way in the pro ranks. His late grandfather hasn’t been far from Dennis Hogan’s thoughts over the last few weeks. Bourke was a founding member of St David’s Boxing Club in Naas and ignited a passion for the sport that has remained undimmed in his grandson, despite the odd setback and obstacle.
‘He always said that I had a great chin and that is something that you need in the pro game. And that’s how it turned out. It’s not the only thing he said that came true. There are a few other things that he told me when I started out boxing that have come true, too. He is always with me, but it feels that he is even more with me the past few weeks and he will be there when I win that world title.’
His great chin is likely to get tested in the Mexican city of Monterrey this coming Saturday when he faces the young, but fearsome, WBO light-middleweight champion, Jaime Munguia, the new golden boy of Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional stable. And he is doing so by effectively stepping into Munguia’s backyard at the Arena Monterrey. The prospect of walking into such a red-hot furnace doesn’t bother the Kilcullen native.
‘I will have to win it the hard way, but that is what I have had to do for most of my career. Nothing has come too easy. It’s just another obstacle and sure, won’t it be a great story, one to tell my own grandkids,’ the affable Hogan says with a deep chuckle.
It’s early morning in Los Angeles and Hogan is getting ready for another hard session at Churchill Boxing Club in Santa Monica. He flew into America’s west coast a fortnight ago to acclimatise for his world title shot. The 34-year-old was walked through Brisbane Airport by the Queensland Irish pipe band, who played Amhrán na bhFiann and Advance Australia Fair before his departure, as he will carry the hopes of the two nations into the ring in Monterrey.
He will even carry a flag that’s half Irish tricolour and half Australian southern cross (minus the Union Jack in the corner). Hogan will be fighting for Ireland, but he is keen to emphasise that moving Down Under has helped transform him into one of the best light-middleweights in the world.
There was a reminder of how far he has come on St Patrick’s Day. Anyone who has been in Australia on March 17 knows that the Irish, most of them in their county jerseys, tend to let their hair down on that day.
When Hogan first arrived in Brisbane from Kildare more than eight years ago, another carpenter trying to escape the recession and austerity over here, that’s exactly what he did,
Last month, Hogan, as prospective world champion, was given his own float in the Brisbane parade. With his partner Brideen and young daughter Aria, he was waving down on all the young Irish enjoying the
festivities. Mad how life can turn out.
‘Things like that, being involved in the Brisbane Paddy’s Day parade, all of that, they are just added bonuses to the journey that I have been on,’ Hogan says. ‘Everything has been geared towards becoming world champion on April 13.’
It has taken time to make this bout. Hogan has been the mandatory challenger with the WBO for some time, but Munguia has ducked and dived, taking opponents further down the rankings. It is hard to believe that the young Mexican is running scared – he is undefeated, after all, and has won 26 of his 32 bouts by knockout.
Negotiations broke down. Contracts were changed. Possible venues, like Las Vegas and Brisbane, were mooted... and dismissed. Such are the headaches that go with putting together a world title bout, even when you are high in the rankings. Munguia side-stepped Hogan for his last defence, pummelling Japanese challenger Takeshi Inoue instead back in January.
If the bout was in Vegas or Brisbane, Hogan could have counted on a little more support than he will receive in Mexico – although both Brideen and his mother will be in attendance. He doesn’t mind.
‘We tried to get the fight in Brisbane, but it wasn’t to be. It doesn’t matter. I will fight him wherever he wants. I would have fought him in a field in Russia if he wanted to do that. He just needs to know that I am coming to Mexico to take his belt.’
The delay in finalising the bout, which will see Hogan get a $500,000 pay-day, has also allowed him to fine-tune his game plan with his team, a game plan that he can’t see failing.
‘I have been working on how to execute the game plan every day, just getting it right. The more I work on it, the more confident I feel. We have watched how he fights. He has a lot of power, but I have a lot more experience. He is only 22 years of age, how much experience can he have,’ points out Hogan, who is 12 years older than the champion.
‘His power has got him to where he is, and he has established his reputation, but somebody like me is going to cause him problems. Our game plan is going to make it awkward for him. I won’t be coming at him one-dimensionally like his last opponent. I know, with neutral judges and a neutral referee, I will cause a big upset.’
Hogan was a decorated amateur in Ireland, fighting at light-heavyweight, although he had the misfortune to be around at the same time as Kenneth Egan. Four times he ran into the Beijing silver medallist at the national championships and lost each time.
When he left for Australia eight years ago, he felt that he was leaving his boxing career behind. But it was an itch that needed to be scratched – even in Brisbane. Shedding more than 15lbs, he dropped two weights over the course of four years. He built up his career in unheralded venues around Queensland and New South Wales and was afforded an opportunity to fight for a world title in December 2015, meeting then WBA light-middleweight champion Jack Culcay in Germany. He lost on unanimous decision, the only blot on his record. ‘I am a far better fighter now than I was when I had that last title fight,’ Hogan insists.
‘In the four years, I have made a lot of progress. Losing that fight was one of the best things that ever happened me. I have a different mindset now, a much stronger mindset and I am much more rounded fighter.’
Since that defeat to Culcay, he has hooked up with Glenn Ruston, the multi-millionaire boxing trainer, who had sculpted Jeff Horn into a world champion. Hogan may be set to become his second success story. As someone who has studied the power of the mind and sub-conscious since leaving his party days behind, Hogan pictures himself as champion every morning.
‘It feels like I am already world champion. I visualise it every day and it is always there in my subconscious. I honestly feel that this is my destiny and I can’t see any other outcome. The challenge is great, but I know that I can rise to it.
‘I have always had this dream and have narrowed down for the last eight years to follow it. All the other distractions and noise isn’t even coming into my mind. This dream is very real, I can feel it. It is always with me. I have a belief and faith of what is to come.
Paddy Bourke always felt that his grandson, with the great chin, was destined for greatness.
There will be no greater feat than dethroning Munguia in his own backyard. Kilcullen better prepare itself for the mother of all parties.
‘MY LIFE HAS BEEN GEARED TO BEING WORLD CHAMPION’