Filip Hrgovic has become one of the most talked about heavyweights in recent months, having scored a sensational win over Moses Itauma to become the IBF world champion.
The granite-chinned Croatian has revealed who he considers the greatest heavyweight of all time.
Following on from his shock win over Itauma, Hrgovic has been consistently calling for unification showdowns with his fellow titleholders, eyeing up a rematch with WBO champion, Daniel Dubois – the only man to have defeated him as a pro.
Following Dubois’ two-round triumph over Fabio Wardley on Saturday night, Hrgovic went viral for his analysis of his heavyweight rivals and contenders. His infectious personality has won over fight fans, who are now calling for a rematch with ‘Triple D’.
However, it wasn’t only his fellow heavyweights that Hrgovic broke down on fight night, as he discussed fighters of years gone by with Rex K-Addo, naming Lennox Lewis as the ‘greatest heavyweight of all time’.
“Heavyweight, for me, the GOAT is Lennox Lewis.”
‘El Animal’ didn’t stop there, as the Rio 2016 bronze medallist then analysed the pound-for-pound legends, explaining why he favours the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya over Sugar Ray Robinson.
“One of my favourites is also Manny Pacquiao. I like Bernard Hopkins a lot, [Oscar] De La Hoya I like, a lot. There are a lot of great fighters, it is a hard question.
“Everyone say that Sugar Ray Robinson is pound-for-pound the best ever but it’s like old-school boxing. It cannot match the skill and speed of the 1980’s or 1990’s [fighters].
“I think that the 90’s were the best.”
Hrgovic is expected to return to action in February, for a first title defence against Frank Sanchez, which is anticipated to take place on home soil in Zagreb.
Meanwhile, February is also understood to be the targeted date for Dubois’ next fight, meaning that the pair could be aligned for a rematch with one another for mid-2027, if they are both victorious in the spring.
