Undefeated fighter Filip Hrgovic has expressed his desire to face former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who is set to return to the ring in August. The fight could lead to a potential December match-up with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia. While Dillian Whyte is the expected opponent for Joshua’s August fight, Eddie Hearn from Matchroom Boxing suggests that there is a financial disagreement, potentially opening the door for Hrgovic to step in.
Joshua returned to the ring last April after a two-fight losing streak, securing a unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin. It was Joshua's first fight under the guidance of new head coach Derrick James from the United States. This victory marked the end of Joshua's losing streak after he previously lost two back-to-back fights to the current unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Hrgovic, who boasts 12 knockouts from his 15 victories, is the IBF’s mandatory challenger and is ready to replace Whyte if an agreement isn’t reached. He believes his power and boxing skills will lead him to victory over Joshua, criticizing Joshua’s recent performance as too cautious and lacking the aggression required to reclaim the championship. As the IBF mandatory, Hrgovic is eager to prove himself in a fight against Joshua.
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