Having stressed a desire to test himself among the world's elite, David Adeleye fell short of the mark as many predicted against longtime heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic.

Two months shy of two full years since his seventh-round stoppage defeat by Fabio Wardley, their career trajectories have gone in different directions. Here, the 28-year-old suffered a second professional defeat and this one will sting even more than the first.

After changing coach and tack following a humbling loss on Saudi shores, Adam Booth and a new environment instilled renewed self-belief in the six-year pro.

He worked away in silence for a while, embracing the role of student and soaking up knowledge from a wise trainer who was at the wheel for someone he sought to emulate: two-division world champion David Haye.

Having gone from a Mini Cooper to a Ferrari — his words — in stepping up levels from a British title fight with former sparring partner Jeamie Tshikeva to The Ring's No. 6-rated heavyweight Hrgovic, producing an upset four months later was going to be a tough ask.

Yet he had fleeting moments of success against the well-seasoned Croatian to suggest he could've done much better with more consistent output across an exhausting 10-round contest.

"I'm a bit pissed with myself, being honest. I should've let my hands go a bit more, started punching out of range and relying on my power rather than my skillset," he told The Ring's Louis Hart in his dressing room afterwards.

"I don't think the world has seen it yet, I have a high skillset but need to show it to the world."

If ever there was an advert for irrational confidence, the Ladbroke Grove native presented himself front-and-centre with that line. Everyone knows about his athletic base and highlight-reel left hook, but Hrgovic absorbed his best and kept walking forward anyway.

Even an inspired 30-second salvo throwing punches galore deep into Round 8, after being dropped heavily earlier in the frame, wasn't enough to turn the tide in his favour.

While his toughness was praised, this came as a bittersweet feeling given he only won one round on two of the judges' scorecards.

"I already knew I was tough, everyone knows I'm not just talking, I'm a fighter that backs it up so definitely a good feeling but everyone around me — my coaches — they know the sort of fighter I am.

"If I did it again [throwing repeatedly at Hrgovic], he wouldn't have been standing there at the final bell and that's why I let myself down. I've got no scars, will be back in the gym so if anyone has got something crazy to say, come and see me, I'll fight them next."

His promoter, Queensberry chief Frank Warren, wasn't impressed with the punch output nor selection against a wounded veteran who again found ways to win. Immediately afterwards, he told BBC: "David didn't do enough work and wasn't using his jab. Hrgovic had been doubling up his own and letting the right hand go, Adeleye didn't throw enough punches.

"He came back and started throwing punches but still lost a 10-8 round [in Round 8]. Hrgovic is what he is, a tough old-style heavyweight who walks forward, had a bad cut here and David didn't take advantage, hardly threw a jab to the eye to make it worse so I'm quite disappointed in his performance."

Compubox stats: Adeleye's 18 punches landed in Round 8 was a fight-high for him, whereas Hrgovic reached or surpassed that figure in nine rounds. Hrgovic threw more than double Adeleye's punch total (510-244) and was 7% more accurate overall on shots landed.