Croatian heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic recently shared his candid views on the current heavyweight landscape in an interview with Seconds Out. The 31-year-old was not shy in expressing his thoughts on several top fighters, including Agit Kabayel, Fabio Wardley, Daniel Dubois, and others.
Hrgovic on Kabayel’s Performance and Potential Clash
Hrgovic was present at Agit Kabayel’s recent victory over Damian Knyba, which ended in a stoppage that he deemed premature. The Croatian boxer voiced his opinion that the referee should have allowed Knyba to continue, highlighting that Kabayel appeared overly relaxed and vulnerable during the fight. Despite these criticisms, Hrgovic remains eager to face Kabayel, with a potential showdown in Germany topping his list.
He sees a potential fight with Kabayel as an important one for the division, particularly given Kabayel’s status as a top contender and the sizeable Croatian fanbase in Germany. “We are two of the top five heavyweights in the world,” Hrgovic remarked, predicting a sold-out arena of 20,000 spectators. When asked about his chances in the fight, he was confident, stating that Kabayel would be knocked out should his speed and power land cleanly.
Focused on Wardley and Dubois, Dismissing Others
Hrgovic’s ambition extends beyond Kabayel, as he has expressed a clear interest in facing both Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois. He made no secret of his desire to fight Wardley for a title, forecasting a dominant knockout victory. “Destruction, knockout big time,” Hrgovic confidently predicted.
His desire for a rematch with Daniel Dubois is also evident. After suffering a loss to Dubois in their previous encounter, Hrgovic has not forgotten the circumstances of the fight. He attributed his defeat to illness and injuries going into the ring, including cuts sustained early on. Now, with a vow to make amends, he asserts that a future fight with Dubois will result in a different outcome: “I’ll smash him,” he promised.
Criticisms of Okolie, Chisora, and Itauma
Despite his eagerness to engage with some fighters, Hrgovic was dismissive of others, calling out Lawrence Okolie for his style in the ring. The Croatian labeled Okolie as “boring,” criticizing his clinching approach and stating that he would prefer not to engage in such tactics for the entirety of a 12-round fight.
Hrgovic also dismissed the idea of facing Derek Chisora in his 50th professional outing, labeling the veteran as “too old” and claiming that he was too dangerous for Chisora at this stage of his career. In a similar vein, the young prospect Moses Itauma was also deemed not ready for Hrgovic, who called him “too green” and repeated that he was “too dangerous” for the 19-year-old.
On Joshua and Fury: Thoughts on the Heavyweight Icons
The Croatian contender didn’t shy away from commenting on two of the division’s biggest names: Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. On Fury, Hrgovic offered a balanced view, acknowledging the WBC champion as a “great fighter” and a “strong opponent” who could return with a successful comeback.
Regarding Anthony Joshua, Hrgovic took a more measured stance. Reflecting on the personal difficulties Joshua has faced recently, Hrgovic suggested that the situation could go in one of two directions: it might either “break him” and lead to his retirement, or it could motivate him to perform better in the ring.
I don’t think Hrgovic really want that rematch with Dubois. He makin excuses sayin he was sick and all that but if you step in the ring, then you ready! No redo for being beat fair.
Hrgovic talkin big like he already champ or somethin. He act like beatin Kabayel is easy but that man showed power. You can’t just say someone gonna get knocked out cause you think so 🤨
You’re right Dean, Hrgovic needs to prove it in the ring before braggin too much. Kabayel ain’t gonna just fall over cause Hrgovic says so.