Tim Tszyu’s next victim revealed as Aussie boxing star stays busy

Tim Tszyu is refusing to wait around for a world title fight and will instead risk it all against a dangerous foe.

Tim Tszyu wants to stay active. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Tim Tszyu will discover if he’s ready to challenge for a world title by fighting a man who came as close as you can to winning one without getting over the line.

Dennis Hogan, a 35-year-old from Ireland who has spent his career fighting out of Queensland, has been locked in as Tsyzu’s next victim in a March 31 bout.

Hogan has thrice fought for world titles, falling devastingly short in a majority decision defeat against Mexico’s Jamie Munguia in 2019 that some described as a robbery.

The three judges scored the fight 114-114, 115-113, and 116-112 for Munguia but many pundits gave Hogan the edge and Munguia himself admitted thinking it was a draw.

“I know I won the fight. I know it in my heart and soul,” Hogan said post-fight. “We came here (to Mexico) in good faith. No disrespect to anybody here apart from the people who scored it and allowed this decision to go through. This is bad for boxing, bad for me.

“He’s a great fighter, but I knew in his eyes, he knew he was losing,” Hogan added. “He was acting desperate … They tried to take my family’s future away, and I’ll fight hard to get it back again.”

Hogan followed that defeat by stepping up in weight to face undefeated middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo but was overpowered by the much bigger man. Charlo sent Hogan reeling with a left uppercut in the fourth round before finishing the job in the seventh.

Hogan hasn’t fought since that December, 2019 defeat but will have what will likely be his final shot at glory against rising Aussie boxing sensation Tszyu at a location still to be determined.

Tim Tszyu's last outing was a brief appearance. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Tszyu (17-0), who has been called out by fellow Australian Michael Zerafa and former world champion Austin Trout, is risking a title shot by stepping into the ring against Hogan.

The 26-year-old’s first round knockout win against Bowyn Morgan last December earned him the right to challenge the winner of WBO champion Patrick Teixeira’s defence against Brian Castano on February 14.

But instead of waiting around for that opportunity, which wouldn’t come earlier than mid-year, Tszyu is going to stay busy.

“I don’t see it like others do, for me this is not a big gamble,” Tszyu told The Daily Telegraph.

“When I go to fight for that world title, I’m going there to win it, not to be a participant and just compete, so this fight against Dennis Hogan is the perfect preparation.

“Every fight for me is a big step up, every fight is a must-win fight. If I am to be a world champion, I’ve got to destroy whoever is in my way, and right now that is Hogan.”