“No away fighter can win in this State” – Weetch vows to beat Hometown Hogan

Jamie Weetch [12(5)-2(0)] claims his style is Dennis Hogan‘s kryptonite and not even bent Brisbane judges can stop him from claiming a knockout win this weekend.

The Perth-based Welshman believes he will have to secure victory inside the distance to ensure his hand is raised in a bout DDP’s Paul Keegan claims is the most important clash in Australia this year.

Weetch, who is managed by Dublin’s Anto Connolly, feels his Kildare opponent is in danger of losing a guaranteed world title shot this Saturday afternoon, suggesting he is finally facing a puncher with the style that he has been protected from over an eight-year pro career.

Weetch predicts he will ‘bull dog’ ‘The Hurricane’ and end the fight early, something he states that, considering the fight is in Hogan’s adopted city of Brisbanen, he will need do to if he is to register a career changing win.

“My style is made to beat Dennis,” Weetch said at the press conference for the big IBF Pan-Pacific and WBO Inter-Continental rankings title fight..

“They have kept him away from people with my style for so long because he came close to losing [against people with my style]. This is the big test for himself and me.”

“I am a come-forward fighter. I am just going to bulldog him. I have to knock him out to win here,” added Hogan’s fellow immigrant before alleging that fights in Brisbane are overly slanted towards the home boxer.

“No one can win here [Brisbane],” said Weetch. “No away fighter can win in this State, they can’.t I am going to knock him out to win. I’m not going to leave it in the hands of the judges on Satuday night.”

“I prefer fighting in Perth, don’t get me wrong, but I’ll fight anywhere, I’ll go anywhere to fight.”

“There’s been some big names here [Brisbane] – and you just see with the decisions, the way they’ve gone in some of those fights, very controversial in my eyes,” he said, seemingly in reference to Hogan’s gym-mate Jeff Horn’s win over Manny Pacquiao last year.

Defeat for former WBA interim title challenger Hogan [27(7)-1(0)-1] would prove disastrous.

The Lilywhite has been guaranteed a shot at the WBO light middleweight belt currently held by giant Mexican Jaime Munguia and basically puts his mandatory status on the line this coming weekend.

Most would have just waited until the New Year for their tilt, but Hogan wanted to get some rounds in and by all accounts asked for the chance to make a statement before jumping back to elite world level.

Weetch believes the former Australian champion has made an error and aims to prove as much this weekend.

“What’s at stake for him is massive. It’s a massive opportunity for him, but more for me.”

“110 percent [they have made a mistake]. They are massively overlooking me, underating me, it’s going to be a great fight don’t get me wrong but I am coming here to do the business. This is my world title fight.”

The Newport man, who looked confident and attempted to be rile his opponent at the shows press conference, admits Hogan is the best fighter he has ever fought, but doesn’t believe that will prevent him from securing victory.

“I can’t wait. I have always asked to be tested and Dennis is a test. He is a massive test for me so I haven’t overlooked him or under estimated him at all. He is my best opponent to date, but I have come here to do the business.”