Dennis Hogan knows he’s the “cat now on his ninth life”, but the Australian-based Irishman plans on soaking up every last second of it as he gears up for one last shot at a world title.
Hogan (30-4) will take on defending champion Sam Eggington (32-7) for the IBO super middleweight belt and in a massive boon for Australian boxing fans, the bout will take place Down Under.
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And the Kildare native knows this is his final chance at conquering the world once and for all.
“I said I was going to give it one more crack,” Hogan told foxsports.com.au.
“We’re back here now, it is what it is. I’m not picking myself up off the ground to go back to the top anymore.
“I’m not getting any younger, it’s a young man’s sport. I’m 37 years of age. I’ve certainly put in.
“Right now, it’s do or die. Now or never. I’m either going to be a world champion or I’m not.”
Three of Hogan’s four losses to date have come from unsuccessful world title pursuits.
The first of those came against Ecuadorean-born German Jack Culcay in 2015 before back-to-back losses against undefeated Mexican Jaime Munguia and Jermall Charlo in 2019.
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Being on the wrong side of the result stung in the moment, but for Hogan and his team, they always knew there was a chance to rebound and build back up again.
However, with Father Time working against him, Hogan believes it makes him an even more dangerous prospect than he was against Culcay, Munguia and Charlo.
“I kept training because that element is always there, if it goes bad, we can go again,” Hogan said.
“But I’ve exhausted all of those lives in my basket. I’m a cat now on his ninth life. I’ve got to get this right and I’m making sure I do.”
Crucially, this will be Hogan’s first world title fight in which he won’t have to travel overseas.
It is understood the bout will be held in early October, with Newcastle and Hogan’s adopted home city of Brisbane among the shortlist of locations to host the fight.
It’s exactly why Hogan feels more confident about this tilt at the title than his previous attempts.
“You wouldn’t believe the amount of travelling I had to do,” Hogan said.
“For Charlo, we had to go over there to Miami three weeks out and stay there, training in the heat.
“Before that, we had to go to New York and the media obligations were crazy. Six weeks previous, I had to leave Australia, fly to New York, a 30-hour flight, spend a day and a half in New York, then a 30-hour flight back.
“I’ve done all the hard work in terms of what needs to be done. I’ve done it all. I’ve been there and I’ve done it well for the most part.
“This time, I get to stay here and focus on my training while he’s got to travel. I’m feeling really good about that.
“If I was to fight him anywhere, I would still feel confident. But just knowing that I get to have that, it’s another box ticked for me.”
