Hogan sets up his shot at world title

BOXING: Dennis Hogan has claimed the best is yet to come from him after sealing his shot at the WBO super-welterweight title in Brisbane yesterday. The Kilcullen native, who has been based in Australia for the duration of his professional career, was taken the distance by England’s Jimmy Kelly, but ultimately was awarded the unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the cagey bout 119-109, 117-111 and 117-113 It means the 33-yearold Kildare man is the WBO’s mandatory challenger and he will face the winner of Sadam Ali’s May 12 title defence with Liam Smith later this year. ‘The fight went exactly as I imagined it would,’ said Hogan. ‘Jimmy put up a good fight, as I knew he would. But the best is yet to come from me and I know that I will become world champion.’ Hogan is the second Irish fighter to become mandatory challenger for a world title. Portlaoise’s TJ Doheny is due a shot at the IBF superbantamweight title while Cork’s Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan is in the frame to replace Canelo Alavrez and face Gennady Golovkin on May 5.