Martin Rogan: In a World of his own

THE debate has raged all week - when is a world champion NOT a world champion?

We all know the sanctioning bodies are a law unto themselves, but Martin Rogan’s trick this week takes the biscuit.

He has already refused a real match-up – in his hometown of Belfast, don't forget – with Tyson Fury for the British and Commonwealth belts, with the Irish probably thrown in for good measure.

And what does he do? Refuse it – to fight for the WBU ‘world’ title instead.

Some of the quotes from The Entertainer's cam were epic. And this gem topped the lot: “On the night of October 27 when I am Ireland’s first real heavyweight champion, I will be calling on Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko to remind them that they don’t own all the titles and they will have to come to Belfast to fight me if they want to back up their claim to be the undisputed heavyweight team.”

Now, Henry Coyle and Patrick Hyland have both won lesser world titles in Ireland this year, and both admitted the trinkets were just stepping stones to bigger fights.

But Rogan’s fight against Luis Andres Pineda – who has won only one of his last EIGHT fights – is a beauty. Ireland’s first world heavyweight champion? Give me a break. 

Anyone can be heavweight champion of the world in their own head, it's easy when you keep on dreaming.