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Dennis Hogan vows to ruin Jaime Munguia’s unification plans


Dennis Hogan has told Jaime Munguia that he has unification plans of his own upon confirming preliminary talks have been begun between DDP Sports and the WBO light middleweight world champion’s promoter Golden Boy.

The Mexican defends his title for a third time against Japan’s Takeshi Inoue live on DAZN this weekend but ‘The Hurricane’ believes that, Liam Smith aside, the 22-year-old has been facing hand-picked opponents and avoided him the #1 ranked contender.

Now with mandatory status secured, the Kildare fighter has to be involved in the next WBO light middleweight title fight regardless of who wins in Houston on Saturday night.

Munguia, whom Golden Boy have big plans for, admitted as much this week, but has been keener to talk about unification bouts and becoming undisputed champ as well as moving up to face the likes of Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.

Hogan [28(7)-1(0)-1] remains unperturbed and the 33-year-old, who is big on visualisation, retorted by telling the Mexican how he sees 2019 playing out for the WBO light middleweight title.

“These are my unification plans. First I win [the title], defend it in Ireland, and then I fight [IBF and WBA champion, Jarrett] Hurd,” Hogan told Irish-Boxing.com when asked about Munguia’s undisputed talk.

While the Brisbane-based boxer believes he will stop Munguia from attempting to unify, there is a part of him happy to hear the champion’s chatter.

It quashes suggestions that the giant youngster will move up to middle as many had predicted.

However, Munguia [31(26)-0] has pledged to stay at light middle for another 12 months and Hogan is delighted because he wanted to dethrone the champion rather than win a vacant title.

“I am extremely happy,” he genuinely admits.

“I would much prefer to beat a champion than fight for a vacate title.”

Again, despite the fact that talks have already begun, Munguia first has to win this weekend or Hogan will be trading leather with Inoue for the strap.

However, the mandatory challenger is confident Mexico and not Japan will be celebrating come Saturday night.

Hogan predicts a KO win for the champ, noting how “every fighter has a chance at the end of the day, but apart from Liam Smith his team have been very careful who he goes in with so based on that you would think he should have a comfortable night.”

“Plus going on records I think there is a big chance Munguia finishes it.”

Kildare Boxing is proudly supported by Liffey Crane Hire

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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