Filip Hgrovic pulled off an upset of the year contender to stun Moses Itauma and capture the vacant IBF heavyweight on Saturday, and now it has been revealed who the Croatian would ideally face in his first fight as the titleholder.
Hrgovic looked vulnerable at points during the beginning of the contest, outworked by the speedier 21-year-old and hitting the canvas in round two. However, the longer the contest continued, the more it tipped in favour of the granite-chinned underdog.
Unable to put Hrgovic away, Itauma’s early output began to catch up with him and he started to breathe heavily and look tired, whilst Hrgovic grew into the contest.
There was no second wind to be had for the youngster. Instead, Hrgovic continued to drag him into deep waters, unmoved by the brutal blows coming back at him, before dispatching of an exhausted Itauma in the ninth round to spoil his coronation.
During the aftermath, Itauma has already requested a rematch, but Hrgovic’s trainer, Abel Sanchez, told Fight Hub TV that ‘El Animal’ instead has eyes on a unification clash against WBO champion Daniel Dubois – the only man to have defeated him in his professional career.
“It all depends on Keith Connolly [manager] and Frank Warren, but I think that, for Filip and because it is for Filip, I think that he wants that rematch with Dubois. He wants that fight back.
“He knows that he wasn’t prepared, he knows that he was sick, he knows all of that. So, in his mind, I think that is the fight that he wants and, since he wants it, I want it too.”
Dubois is set to rematch Fabio Wardley in six weeks’ time, but it is understood that Hrgovic must first defend his title against Cuba’s Frank Sanchez, who stepped aside to allow Itauma and Hrgovic to fight for the vacant IBF title.
Although, it is believed that Hrgovic-Sanchez will take place relatively soon, which could open the door to a Dubois unification rematch for the Croatian in the first half of 2027.
