Filip Hrgovic returns to the ring this weekend, as he takes on the fifth British opponent of his career in Dave Allen.
The Croatian looks to extend his professional record to 20-1 with a win over Allen in Doncaster, and he is heavy favourite to do so. A win on Saturday would give Hrgovic a fourth victory over UK heavyweights, having beaten Tom Little, Joe Joyce, and David Adeleye, but fallen short against Daniel Dubois.
Aside from the Dubois defeat, which was stopped on cuts in the eighth round, Hrgovic has looked close to losing on two occasions – a controversial points win over Zhilei Zhang, and a dramatic eighth round against Adeleye in which the Brit was dropped but recovered to put ‘El Animal’ on seriously shaky legs.
Speaking to DAZN ahead of his return, Hrgovic reflected on the ‘toughest round of his career’ against Adeleye, confirming that the Brit is the hardest hitter he has faced so far.
“He gave me the hardest punch that I ever received in my career. He punches harder than Zhang, Dubois, than anyone I faced … He’s got power. He doesn’t throw a lot, but he definitely has a strong punch.”
Most predict that Hrgovic’s durability will pose problems for Allen, who also believes he possesses an ‘iron chin’. If the Croatian comes through with the win and is injury-free, it is this resilience that may well land him a fight with young sensation Moses Itauma.
Itauma has made no secret that he wants to face Hrgovic, and it would be the clear toughest assignment of his impressive career so far. Talk of the match-up has intensified this week, seemingly leaving ‘The White Rhino’ Allen as the only man who can upset the plans.
As for Adeleye, he does not currently have his next fight booked but is consistently pushing for a high-level return, even calling out the new WBO champion, Dubois.