Kildare boxer Hogan weighs in ahead of massive WBO eliminator fight in Oz tomorrow

Kildare boxer Dennis Hogan is gearing up for another massive fight as he looks to further his ambitions of landing a world title.

The Kilcullen native,who has been based in Oz since turning professional seven years ago, last had a shot at a world title when he took on German Jack Culcay in his own backyard in 2015.

He enters the ring tomorrow against highly rated Japanese fighter and world number seven Yuki Nonaka on in a WBO eliminator bout.

The defeat to Culcay remains the super welterweight's only loss in 27 fights, and as the number one ranked Australian boxer in his weight, this fight could prove to be career defining for the Hurricane.

39-year-old Nonaka has a big height advantage of around 9cm over Hogan, but the Kildare man is not worried about that ahead of the fight.

“The fact he’s a lot taller than me doesn’t worry me a bit,’’ said Hogan, “I was the Irish light-heavyweight (81kg) champion for years as an amateur and so I was always fighting guys who were taller than me and had a longer reach.

“All it means is that I have a much bigger target to hit. I’ve been sparring a very good southpaw, Liam Paro, for this fight and I feel very confident.

“Nonaka is a quality opponent and a win will put me in one corner for a world title shot.

“Training with Jeff Horn has been tremendous because of the level of skill and confidence and intensity he brings into the gym. I’m up to that level of intensity now and I want to make a big statement on Saturday night. We’ve got a great gym with Jeff and Joe Goodall, who just won a bronze medal at the world amateur titles and I want to keep that momentum going.’’

Both boxers made the weight this evening when they faced off in Brisbane, and the fight will go ahead at around 10am Irish time on Saturday morning.