Brisbane-based Dennis Hogan eyes off Conor McGregor for an all-Ireland super fight

He is one of the biggest names in combat sports and Conor ‘Notorious’ McGregor could be returning to the boxing ring if an Australian world-title hopeful gets his wish.

Brisbane-based Irishman Dennis Hogan has UFC legend Conor McGregor on his radar after sealing the world-title showdown that will make or break his turbulent boxing career.

News Corp can reveal Hogan’s camp will begin negotiations with McGregor to stage a proposed all-Ireland super fight, either at the world famous Croke Park or Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

There is one hurdle to clear first. Hogan (30-4-1, 7KO) must dispose of defending champion Sam Eggington (32-7, 18KO) when the duo square off for the IBO super welterweight world title in Brisbane, slated for October.

Brisbane-based Irishman Dennis Hogan will fight for a world title against Sam Eggington in October and has Conor McGregor in his sights.

Hogan’s manager Steve Scanlan confirmed he is in the advanced stages of talks to bring Eggington Down Under for an IBO bout that will represent the Brisbane boxer’s fourth shot at a world title.

And if the 37-year-old Hogan atones for the heartbreak of being robbed in his world-title loss to Jaime Munguia in Mexico in 2019, ‘Hurricane’ will be eyeing off an Irish blockbuster against ‘Notorious’ McGregor.

“Dennis deserves this shot for everything he has been through,” Scanlan said.

“He has had three world-title shots and he was robbed in Mexico, but this would be his first world-title fight on Australian soil.

“The IBO ordered us to negotiate and we have another week to finalise a deal with Sam Eggington before it goes to purse bid.

“Negotiations are going well, they are happy to come here, so we expect to have a deal done this week which is great news for Dennis and Australian fight fans.

“Once the deal is done, I will be reaching out to Conor McGregor’s people to discuss the prospect of him fighting Dennis.”

Floyd Mayweather Jr was too slick and quick for McGregor in their mega bout in 2017.

MMA icon McGregor was beaten by Floyd Mayweather Jr in his boxing debut in 2017, but the 34-year-old has not ruled out returning to the ring.

The Kildare-born Hogan has long-standing Irish ties with McGregor, who has not fought for a year due to a broken leg.

A Hogan-McGregor showdown may seem fanciful, but Scanlan believes the appeal of winning a boxing world-title can be the carrot that convinces Notorious to bite.

“It’s a real chance and we will move heaven-and-earth to make the fight happen,” Scanlan said.

“No-one thought Manny Pacquiao would ever fight Jeff Horn but it happened.

“The first step is for Dennis to get the job done against Eggington and I believe he will.

“If this doesn’t go his way, it would probably be the end for Dennis, but if he wins the world title, we will be looking at Conor McGregor.

Hogan hopes a world-title victory will convince McGregor to take on his countryman.

“It sounds fairytale-ish, but fighting Conor is a genuine possibility. They both have Irish blood. Dennis knows Conor well, he is actually a big hit in Ireland and Conor would think he is a huge chance of beating Dennis.

“Conor McGregor has made it clear he would box again and if he can win a legitimate world title, that would get him out of bed for a shot at Dennis Hogan.

“Imagine selling out Croke Park in Ireland or bringing Conor McGregor to Suncorp Stadium.

“The Irish people of Australia would go nuts.”

Hogan’s career was at the crossroads when he lost to Tim Tszyu two years ago, but back-to-back wins over Tommy Browne and Wade Ryan have put him within touching distance of an elusive world title.

“Eggington is very beatable,” Scanlan said. “Sam has more power than Dennis, but Dennis has the experience to outbox him the longer the fight goes.

“What happened to Dennis in Mexico (losing to Munguia) was devastating, but in his backyard of Brisbane, he can finally get that world title.

“This is his last chance.”

Originally published as Brisbane-based Dennis Hogan eyes off Conor McGregor for an all-Ireland super fight