BoxRec

Dennis Hogan threatens to withdraw from Tim Tszyu fight over sponsor issue

Hogan is slated to face Tszyu this coming Wednesday

Well, this is new.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Wednesday’s super welterweight clash between Tim Tszyu and Dennis Hogan is in some last-minute danger, as Hogan “has sensationally vowed to cancel his Wednesday night showdown with Tim Tszyu if prevented from wearing a pair of sponsored boxing trunks.”

More specifically, Hogan (28-3-1, 7 KO) has been barred from wearing shorts bearing sponsor PointsBet’s logo, as the card “has Sportsbet as its preferred betting partner.” The Irishman is not taking this demand lying down.

“They’ve basically tried to pull money from me,” Hogan said. “Pull money from my family. It’s not good. My sponsors put bread on the table for my family. So wearing that shirt, what does it take away from the promoters? What does it take away from their betting agency? I didn’t get emotional about it today, but I have PointsBet across the front band of my shorts and I will be wearing them into the fight on Wednesday.”

No Limit Boxing’s Matt Rose is holding firm as well, saying Hogan can’t “wear his trunks to the ring unless the rival betting agency was somehow covered over.”

Will anything come of this? I doubt it; I’d applaud Hogan’s chutzpah if he actually followed through on his threat, but I’d imagine that a little money under the table will solve the issue in a jiffy.

why does it seem like almost every "big" fight in Australia or New Zealand has some last-minute drama like this that never goes anywhere? does this sort of thing sell PPVs in these countries?

Tim Tszyu and Dennis Dennis Hogan square off in a ten-round matchup on Wednesday, March 31. The contest headlines boxing fight card live on pay-per-view from Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Broadmeadow, NSW.



The start time is scheduled for 7 pm AEDT

Main Card

WBO Global super welterweight title
Tim Tszyu (69.3 kg) vs. Dennis Hogan (69.4 kg)

WBA Oceania and IBO International super welterweight title
Wade Ryan (69.48 kg) vs. Koen Mazoudier (69.3 kg)

WBA Oceania super featherweight title
Paul Fleming (58.66 kg) vs. Tyson Lantry (58.48 kg)

Sam Soliman (74.28 kg) vs. Sakio Bika (74.48 kg)

Vacant WBA Oceania super middleweight title
Cesar Mateo Tapia (76.02 kg) vs. Renold Quinlan (74.92 kg)

Undercard

Darkon Dryden (69.66 kg) vs. Jason Medawar (69.68 kg)

Linn Sandstrom (50.96 kg) vs. Felicity Loiterton (51 kg)

Jason Fawcett (69.14 kg) vs. Alex Carioti (69.76 kg)

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑30 Mar 2021, 12:28 why does it seem like almost every "big" fight in Australia or New Zealand has some last-minute drama like this that never goes anywhere? does this sort of thing sell PPVs in these countries?

I think they defiantly try get something to put in the news the night before the fight. Can’t blame them either, you get on prime time news, the papers, the online news, social media the day befor a fight, that’s many many many thousands in advertising free. I’d be stirring up a “controversy” too.

den's gonna be very sore from that utterly massive sh!te he's taking there, not the best fight prep

Sakio Bika Dominates Sam Soliman, Calls Out Oscar De La Hoya

Sakio Bika came out of retirement to settle the score with his oldest ring rival before setting his sights on a far bigger prize.

The former super middleweight titlist dominated countryman Sam Soliman en route to a lopsided eight-round unanimous decision win. Scores were 80-73, 79-73 and 78-74 in favor of Bika in their trilogy fight Wednesday evening at Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, Australia.

The win was enough for Bika to call out another returning middle-aged boxer.

"I want to fight Oscar de la Hoya," Bika insisted after the lopsided affair, offering his services for the Hall of Famer's announced July 3 ring return on Triller Fight Club Pay-Per-View.

The pace of the eight-round rubber match was precisely what you'd expect between a pair of 40-something boxers fighting well past their best days. Soliman, 47, was deliberate in his approach out the gate, fighting with a protective brace over his right knee and never truly finding his rhythm.

Bika, 41, was content with being able to throw one punch without having to worry about much coming back in return. The former super middleweight titlist shot his jab and occasionally followed with chopping right hands, a pattern which was enough to control the action through three rounds.

Soliman briefly turned the tide in round four, able to work his way inside while Bika's punch output declined. It held up only until the next frame, as did his skin as a clash of heads left Soliman with a deep cut over his left eye. It wasn't severe enough to stop the fight, though was enough for Bika to regain his bearings and resume control.

Bika had Soliman in trouble throughout the final 90 seconds of round seven. A flush right hand caught Soliman clean on the chin, leaving the former middleweight titlist on wobbly legs. Bika continued to apply heavy pressure, landing another right hand along the ropes and peppering Soliman with combinations though unable to close the show.

Soliman came out bloody and unsteady for the eighth and final round, gasping for air as Bika was methodical in his attack before unloading down the stretch. A left hook had Soliman in trouble, with Bika landing several more heavy blows but falling just short on the ones that could truly end the fight.

Bika instead settled for a lopsided win to go up 2-1 in their 18-plus year rivalry. The win advances his record to 35-7-2 (22KOs), having won his last three starts. The previous occasion came in Oct. 2017, ending his retirement for the sake of getting in the ring with his old rival.

The rematch comes more than 13 years after the two met in the semifinal round of The Contender season two in Los Angeles, where Bika scored an eight-round decision in a far more competitive affair and much closer to their respective primes. Bika went on to win the boxing reality series while also avenging a defeat to Soliman from five years prior.

Soliman falls to 46-15-1 (19KOs), ending a three-fight unbeaten streak. The fight was his first since April 2019 and hopefully the final call in a career dating back to 1997. The Melbourne native won the IBF middleweight title in a May 2014 rematch with Felix Sturm, the reign lasting less than five months before conceding the crown to Jermain Taylor in Oct. 2014.

Bika claimed the WBC super middleweight title in June 2013, winning the belt in his fourth attempt after having previously fallen short to Joe Calzaghe and twice to countryman Anthony Mundine. His reign lasted 13 months, fighting Anthony Dirrell to a draw before losing the belt via 12-round decision in their Aug. 2014 rematch.

The bout aired live on the undercard of a scheduled 12-round junior middleweight bout between Tim Tszyu (17-0, 13KOs) and Dennis Hogan (28-3-1, 7KOs).

Tszyu vs. Hogan LIVE Results: Paul Fleming, Cesar Mateo Tapia Earn Stoppage Wins

Paul Fleming fought through the pain of a hand injury to preserve his unbeaten record.

The 32-year-old southpaw from Sydney scored a 7th round stoppage of countryman Tyson Lantry in an impressive showing. No knockdowns were scored in the contest, though Fleming's level of dominance forced Lantry's corner to literally throw in the towel early in the 7th round of their junior lightweight affair Wednesday evening at Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, Australia.

Fleming was dominant from the opening bell, his pace slowed only by what appeared to be a hand injury suffered midway through the contest. It merely turned a rout into a one-sided showcase before Fleming picked up the pace later in the bout.

Lantry (8-4, 3 KOs) did his best to keep pace but was hopelessly outgunned. As much was recognized by his corner, who called for the stoppage after Fleming (27-0-1, 18 KOs) unloaded with an unanswered burst of power shots in round seven.

Fleming entered on the heels of a disappointing technical draw with Bruno Tarimo last December. Their anticipated bout ended with a clash of heads in round three, leaving Fleming with a cut deemed too severe to allow the action to continue.

Opening the five-fight Pay-Per-View telecast, Cesar Mateo Tapia scored a repeat win over Renold Quinlan, this time getting the job done inside of four rounds.

The bout was far more of a mismatch than their first fight in Aug. 2019, which wasn't really that competitive. Tapia—a 22-year old Mexican prospect now based out of Narrabean, Australia—was in full control, dropping Quinlan (12-8, 8 KOs) in round four and forcing the stoppage moments later. Tapia (13-0, 8 KOs) won their first fight by unanimous decision.

Both bouts aired live on the undercard of a scheduled 12-round junior middleweight bout between Tim Tszyu (17-0, 13 KOs) and Dennis Hogan (28-3-1, 7 KOs).

When's the main event..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑31 Mar 2021, 07:13 When's the main event..

Now. Tszyu is entering.

Tszyu KOed Hogan in 5.

Tim Tszyu Drops, Stops Dennis Hogan Inside Of Five Rounds

Tim Tszyu continues to carve out his own reputation in the sport.

The second-generation contender manhandled former two-time title challenger Dennis Hogan in a 5th round stoppage win Wednesday evening at Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, Australia.

Tszyu floored Hogan early in the frame, continuing on the attack before Hogan’s corner literally threw in the towel with roughly 0:30 to go in round five.

Tszyu nearly closed the show late in round three. Hogan was already showing signs of fatigue, further aided by crushing left hooks to the body by Tszyu who had his countryman in retreat toward the end of the frame.

A similar sequence transpired down the stretch in round four. Tszyu launched a two-fisted attack, connecting with right hands and left hooks upstairs as Hogan could do little more than hold in order to slow down the onslaught. Tszyu pinned Hogan along the ropes in the final 0:30 of the round, though with the trasnpanted

Tszyu improves to 18-0 (14KOs), strengthening his claim as a premier junior middleweight contender. Wednesday’s win also further established his star power back home, playing to a third straight sizeable crowd since the pandemic with the venue completely sold out at full capacity.

A title shot could be in his near future even if not next out the gate. Currently being explored is an undisputed showdown between lineal/WBC/WBA/IBF champ Jermell Charlo (34-1, 18 KOs) and unbeaten Brian Castaño (17-0-1, 12 KOs), though an IBF mandatory title defense could serve as a disruptor.

Such a course of action would be the best laid route for Tszyu, who remains the number-one contender in the WBO rankings though not yet officially named as the mandatory challenger. Time remains on his side, as the 26-year-old is just now entering his prime.

The bout aired live on Australia Main Event Pay-Per-View.

Tim is ready for final eliminator, or even a world title fight soon..

154 can be seen as weak, but the champions are good.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑31 Mar 2021, 08:42 Tim is ready for final eliminator, or even a world title fight soon..

154 can be seen as weak, but the champions are good.

He should be given a title fight. No really threatening fighters are seen there, except Charlo, Castano, Hurd and Lara.

Tszyu: We aren’t in a rush for a world title shot

Both WBO #1 rated light middleweight Tim Tszyu and his manager Glen Jennings commented on Tszyu’s impressive win over world-rated Kevin Hogan, as well as his future plans.

Tim Tszyu: “I thought he would last a bit longer. I slowly started picking it up. It was a mixture of body and head punches. The headshot dropped him. He was feeling every shot and going downhill. It was just a matter of time.

“You break people down physically and mentally when you attack the body. I did it with Jeff Horn. I have a lot of different punches in my arsenal. I was happy with the result. I wasn’t worried about the cut eye that was from a head clash in round two. I couldn’t care less about that. This is boxing not dancing.

“The crowd was insane. Not many boxers get to experience such an atmosphere. Round one I was a bit too excited. But in rounds two and three I was able to slow it down. Not rush and pick my shots.

“We aren’t in a rush for a world title shot but I know that I can compete with the big boys. It took Charlo seven rounds to stop Hogan and I did it in five. I want international fights and be recognized globally. I want the big names. I’m not satisfied yet. My dad was undisputed champion for ten years. What have I done? Give me a few years. I have a long way to go. I spoke to my dad tonight. He was pretty happy. He was on a television channel in Russia. I could tell he was happy.”

Glen Jennings, Tszyu’s Manager: “In a perfect world, we would love the straps. We aren’t concerned about any of the big names. Tim once again has shown – though plenty will say- we are not at the right level. He keeps winning. They know overseas where Timmy is at.

“The next stage for us is to plant him over there and show his style to the American market. Very quickly Tim Tszyu’s name will be on the world stage. If it ends up Charlo and Castano having it out and Charlo wins – Timmy will be mandatory for Charlo. That will be a unification bout for all the straps. It’s a political game. We will see where it all falls. We will stay busy regardless. We will be working from tomorrow on securing his next fight. Our plan will be to look at some quality international opponents and going forward we will do our best to bring those opponents to Australia

“We don’t necessarily want to go to the USA and fight in an empty studio. We will be moving onward and upward. Everything is on the open market for us. We are going to see how the dominoes fall. Tim has proven once again tonight he is a special athlete. He is 18 and 0. The numbers tell the story.”