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Hogan just too good for battler Bryant

Robbie Bryant. Pic: Mogens Johansen/WA News

WA's Robbie Bryant came up short in his attempt to win the Australian middleweight belt on Saturday night after title-holder Dennis Hogan put on a quality boxing display at the Kingsway Indoor Stadium.

Hogan was equally comfortable on the front foot and back as his all-round ability made sure Bryant was second best throughout. There is no denying the 98-92, 98-92, 100-90 scorecards accurately reflected his superiority.

With a large Irish crowd inside the hall, it might have seemed like a home fight for Kildare-born Queeenslander Hogan.

Bryant, himself born overseas in New Zealand, was looking frustrated by the third round but every time he tried to rush Hogan, he was picked off. Alternatively Bryant would throw a big right, only for Hogan to slip to one side and make him miss.

As usual there was no faulting Bryant's effort. But just as against Jarrod Fletcher 12 months ago, he found Hogan too elusive.

Bryant even had the class to acknowledge Hogan's skills in the fourth round with a nod of approval after being tagged again, and by the sixth the glum faces on his family and friends ringside told the story.

Unbeaten Hogan, now 16 wins and one draw, basically was doing as he pleased, and even on the occasions Bryant had him on the ropes he was able to escape.

There was nothing to pick at in the performance of "Hurricane" Hogan, who won the title only a month ago. Perhaps with a little more power the 28-year-old would have stopped Bryant and it will be interesting to see if the lack of a real KO shot hinders him as he progresses.

But he didn't need it last night and after that classy display it would be great to see him in Perth again soon.

As for Bryant, this was his third loss in 22 fights and the 34-year-old, ranked No7 by the WBA 12 months ago, faces a tough climb back.

Earlier, popular 43-year-old Dave Letizia defied the years to lift the WA cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision over Grant Horwood.

London Olympics boxing captain Luke Jackson (3-0), from Hobart, remained unbeaten with a fourth-round TKO over debutant Mateusz Golsztajn.

In other fights WA's Alberto Howell won over six against gutsy Dean Cambridge, who took some serious punishment, Bunbury teen Nathaniel May needed just 85 seconds to claim a fourth pro win with a vicious body shot to take down Carlos Canales, while Jamie Weetch, Jono Carroll and Tony Senior all had wins.