After a successful 2019, that saw Tommy Frank pick up three titles, and new signing Josh Wale (pictured) launching himself as a title-winning featherweight, Dennis Hobson says he is excited about what next year will bring.
With the year coming to a close, Dennis – who has worked with a number of world-title winning fighters including Clinton Woods, Ricky Hatton, Jamie McDonnell and David Haye – has reflected on the last 12 months, and picked out some of his highlights and accolades.
Read on …
“It’s a toss-up between Josh Wale and Tommy Frank, but I think my Dennis Hobson Promotions Fighter of the Year would have to be Josh. A lot of people thought Josh’s career was over but he’s signed with us, has gone to another level, and is ready for a really big fight again. This year he’s won a Commonwealth eliminator, has just won an IBO Title, and is now in the world top 15. Josh and his dad are great to work with and, although we probably should have started working together earlier in his career, we’ve proved a few people wrong. When he walks out to the ring on February 21st next year at the Barnsley Metrodome, it’s going to be a real homecoming.
“For my Prospect of the Year, one of our fighters who’s had less than five bouts, I’d probably say Keanen Wainwright. He had a reversal back in July but has bounced straight back, and that fight was a learning experience rather than a loss. He’s got so much ability, and a great attitude. We’ve got a few decent prospects in our stable but, because of how Keanen bounced back from that defeat, that’s why I’ve given him the nod over other good kids like Sufyaan Ahmed.
“We’ve had some cracking fights on our shows this year and Josh Wale has been in a few of them but, in terms of the Best Fight of the Year, Tommy Frank was in a fantastic fight against the Thai kid (Aran Dipaen) for the WBC International Silver Super Flyweight Title. It was a cracking fight, some people thought it could have gone either way, but I thought Tommy did enough. It was a learning fight for Tommy, had toe-to-toe action, plenty of skill, heart and drama, and was a great fight for the TV viewers.
“In the next 12 months, I’d like to be somewhere on the road to having a heavyweight contender on the world scene, with Kash Ali. Richard Towers is doing a fantastic job with him, and bringing the best out of him. John Fewkes is also doing a terrific job with our stable of fighters, and there’s plenty of talent emerging on the back of what he’s doing. Our first show of 2020 is on February 21st in Barnsley, which Josh Wale will be topping. With Tommy Frank, we have major plans and, in a nutshell, we’ll be looking for him to fight for a world title next year. We’re very close to getting it signed, and are very excited about it because, in such a short space of time, he’s come on so much.
“I’ve been to the top of boxing before, and we’re constantly chipping away. My track record shows that I don’t need an Olympian put in my lap to go and win major titles. I’m pretty happy with how things are, I’ve got Steve Crump alongside me as my boxing partner, and he’s one of the best signings I’ve ever made! I’ve never had someone who I can bounce off like Steve, who I can trust like him and who knows where we can go with it all – that’s the exciting thing.
“We’d like to continue our relationship with Freesports next year. We’ve delivered some great entertainment for them over the last 18 months on the resources we’ve had and, on a bigger budget, just imagine what else we could deliver. I just want to create great memories, that’s what I’m all about these days. Boxing changes all the time, we’re climbing the ladder, aren’t under any illusions, but I know what we’re capable of and am really excited about 2020.”
