On Saturday, December 5, at the Inselparkhalle in Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg, Germany, interim WBA super welterweight champion Jack Culcay (21-1, 10 KOs), fighting out of Darmstadt, will defend his title against unbeaten current NABA-USA champion Dennis Hogan (22-0, 7 KOs), from Newstead, Queensland, Australia, by way of Kildare, Ireland.
Thirty-year-old Culcay, the former EBU and WBA Intercontinental champion, turned pro in 2009. He won the interim WBA title in May with a unanimous decision over Maurice Weber.
Culcay has a single defeat, a controversial split decision loss to Guido Pitto in 2013, which he avenged six months later.
Hogan, also 30 years old, is a former Australian middleweight champion and WBA Oceania super welterweight champion. He won the vacant NABA-USA super welterweight title in April of the year with a UD over Tyrone Brunson. In his last fight on June 6, he defeated Kenny Abril to retain the title.
Activity has been a key to Hogan’s success. Saturday’s fight will mark his seventh in the past 20 months, but this will be the biggest bout of the Irishman’s career.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” said Hogan. “These don’t come along very often so I have to make sure and do the business. My opponent is a very good boxer and will be a tough test no doubt, but I feel I will have a different style to what he is used to and that will help me pull of a big upset.”
Hogan’s trainer, Steve Deller, seconds that emotion.
“Culcay is a very well-schooled European fighter who likes to dominate the centre ring and dictate the pace. But we’re banking on Dennis being able to fight at a faster pace than him and apply pressure in every round.”
Not if Culcay has anything to say about it.
“I should have fought Hogan in September,” said Culcay (the fight was postponed due to injury), “so I’ve had a long time to prepare for this fight and I know what to expect. Although Hogan will probably be the toughest test of my career so far, I have no doubt I can beat him.”
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
