Newly-crowned boxing world champion Dennis Hogan has shared a classy message Bernard Dunne sent his way in the aftermath of his crowning glory earlier this month.
Amidst the heaps of congratulations that came the Kildare man's way after beating Sam Eggington to become the IBO super-welterweight champion, he explained that he hadn't seen Dunne's video up til now.
He wrote: "I don’t know why I’m only seeing this today but what an honour to get from Bernard Dunne, the legend who ignited Irish boxing and my interest in professional boxing a long time ago, thank you champ."
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In the clip, the Irish boxing legend tells the 37-year-old he's done himself, his family, team and country proud in fulfilling such a milestone goal after years of coming up agonisingly short.
In a back and forth fight, Hogan just about did enough to come out on the right side of the judges' decision.
After a cagey opening few stanzas, 'Hurricane' Hogan started to get to grips with his English opponent around the midway point of the fight. By the 10th round, it was clear that the 37-year-old was in control and Eggington had to force the issue.
And that's exactly what Eggington did over the final two rounds. The 28-year-old emptied the tank and tried with all his heart to put Hogan away.
But the veteran Irishman was too smart, too savvy and stayed out of danger to pick up a richly deserved victory.
"I've been through the biggest obstacles," said Hogan after the fight. "Winning this is a sign for everybody to keep persisting, keep believing."
"You can f***ing do it."
The road to the top has been a bumpy one for Hogan. Twice beaten in world title fights in 2019, the Australian-based Irishman admitted prior to this fight that defeat could signal the end of his time at the top of the sport.
Victory presents with it an opportunity to defend the world title on home soil. Hogan has spoken in the past of his desire to defend his title against Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan on a potential Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano Croke Park card.
His victory represents the second major boxing win for Kildare in recent times after Eric 'Lilywhite' Donovan took home the EU super-featherweight title last month.
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