By Shaun Brown
THERE WAS disappointment etched across Filip Hrgovic’s face. The Croatian heavyweight knows, even a year on, that his fight against Daniel Dubois was a massive opportunity missed. He doesn’t need reminding, but his professionalism won’t let him hide from what was a significant setback in a career once destined for the very top.
Speaking from Big Bear Lake, California, where he’s deep into training camp with Abel Sanchez, the man once behind Gennady Golovkin’s fearsome middleweight reign, Hrgovic is now under new guidance.
Sanchez replaced Ronnie Shields and has been tasked with bringing ‘El Animal’ out of heavyweight hibernation and into the mix, chasing down undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
One fight and one win together is a positive step, especially given the short notice. In April, Hrgovic stepped in to replace Dillian Whyte and faced Joe Joyce on just a few weeks’ preparation.
He emerged a clear winner on points but showed enough vulnerability against an arguably faded opponent to keep the doubters talking. Just as an actor can be defined by a single role, a fighter can be remembered by one defining moment – for better or worse. For Hrgovic, so far, that moment is the eighth-round stoppage loss to Dubois.
“It was my big chance and if I won that I would fight [Anthony] Joshua in Wembley and I would become a heavyweight champion of the world, hopefully,” he tells Boxing News.
“Of course, I’m frustrated because of that. It was – I don’t know – destiny. A lot of bad things happened before that fight and in that fight I was cut on both eyes since first and second round and I wasn’t just, you know, myself.
“But it is what it is, you know. That happened for a reason and I’m here. I’m here where I am now.”
Fighters tend to fall into two camps after a defeat – especially their first. There are those who explain the reasons behind it, and those who refuse to.
“Before Dubois, I was sick,” he says.
“I got a big flu one week before and I was sick. I wasn’t feeling great. I was injured in the camp. I lost a few weeks of sparring. I was cut in the sparring.
“I definitely should have postponed that fight and cancelled it.
“But I was waiting for many years to get my chance and it was a big opportunity for me and it was hard to make that decision to cancel the fight.
“I was confident that I’ll beat him even in that shape. But if I go again now with this mind, I will of course cancel that fight and every time in future if that happens again, I will cancel the fight.
“So, I guess [against] Joe Joyce, I was healthy.
“It was a short notice but at least I was healthy and I think that’s the biggest difference.”
In June, Hrgovic turned 33. Since making his professional debut at 25, the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist has flattered to deceive.
Nineteen fights in eight years is a modest return for any contender, let alone one who was once earmarked as a future champion.
His trio of toughest tests resulted in a controversial win over Zhilei Zhang, a loss to Dubois, and a bounce-back victory against Joyce.
“I’m satisfied with my career, with everything that I achieved,” he reflects.
“I think it’s much harder when you’re coming from a small country like myself.
“It makes a big difference and I’m happy that I reached the top of the division.
“I’m proud of that, but also I’m unhappy that I’m not a world champion and I’m unhappy because I lost that fight against Dubois.
“Now, I have another fight and hopefully this time I’ll become world champion.”
That next fight takes place in Riyadh on Saturday.
It will be Hrgovic’s third bout against British opposition, this time against the relatively inexperienced David Adeleye.
The 28-year-old, promoted by Frank Warren, remains raw and explosive – still learning, still prone to missteps.
After talking himself into a beating from Fabio Wardley, Adeleye bounced back with a one-round demolition of Solomon Dacres and a debated win over Jeamie TKV to take the British title (since relinquished).
The heavyweight division currently offers no shortage of intrigue.
It’s a landscape where even the less seasoned can be thrust into the spotlight and given a chance to leapfrog into the world’s top 15.
“I think he’s a decent fighter,” Hrgovic says, without much conviction, of Adeleye.
“I don’t think he’s a great fighter, but he’s good, solid and good opponent for me.
“Solid name and, of course, every fight is a risk and every fighter is dangerous, you know.
“It’s heavyweight boxing, so I train really hard and I will be in great shape. But I expect a good fight and I’m confident that I’m better.”
