Filip Hrgovic, the undefeated heavyweight boxer, has boldly declared himself as the future “King of the heavyweight division,” predicting a reign with the IBF heavyweight title for the next five years. This statement comes ahead of his fight on the “Day of Reckoning” card this Saturday, December 23rd, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, against veteran Mark De Mori.
Hrgovic’s confidence is evident despite criticisms of his recent performances, particularly against Zhilei Zhang and Dempsey McKean. The Croatian fighter, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, believes that the current top heavyweights - Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Oleksandr Usyk - are nearing the end of their careers, paving the way for him to dominate the division.
However, his claim has raised eyebrows among boxing fans and analysts, especially considering his lackluster showings in his last two bouts. His upcoming fight against the 41-year-old De Mori has been viewed by some as a mismatch, suggesting that Hrgovic should be facing more formidable opponents if he is to be taken seriously as a future heavyweight champion.
Hrgovic is the IBF’s mandatory challenger, and he is set to fight for the world title against the winner of the Fury-Usyk bout. He notes that if a rematch occurs between them, the IBF title may be vacated, giving him a chance to fight for the vacant belt. Hrgovic’s ambition is clear, but his recent ring performances suggest that he needs to significantly improve his game to fulfill his lofty predictions.
The real test for Hrgovic will be how he fares against higher-ranked contenders once he potentially secures the IBF belt. His bold claim of ruling the division for the next five years has added an element of intrigue to his career trajectory.
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