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'Unifications are important': Hrgovic hopes Sanchez will wait again
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'Unifications are important': Hrgovic hopes Sanchez will wait again
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Newly crowned IBF heavyweight world champion Filip Hrgovic isn't satisfied holding one piece of hardware after producing a ninth-round stoppage win over Moses Itauma on Saturday.
Instead, the experienced Croatian wants them all. At 34 and with time ticking on an extensive career spanning more than 20 years, Hrgovic directly called for revenge against WBO beltholder Daniel Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs).
Dubois, a former teenage sparring partner, inflicted Hrgovic's first professional loss in June 2024 after their bruising battle was stopped having sustained deep cuts over both eyes eight rounds into a pulsating affair.
He was ringside and relatively unsurprised at the outcome.
"Experience came through and the better man won," Dubois told Eze Obasi.
"[Itauma] took the fight believing they could win. He'll come again. Hrgovic is a tough cookie. You've got to really break him down. I'll be ready for him [again]. It's exciting."
The new champion referenced humiliation he felt in the aftermath as a key reason he considered retiring from the sport altogether, though he was motivated to try and achieve his goal one final time after the birth of his daughter.
Dubois' immediate rematch with Fabio Wardley was made official hours earlier in that very ring for October 17 at London's O2 Arena. Hrgovic also called to unify with WBC heavyweight titleholder Agit Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs), who congratulated him in the ring and doubled down on a desire to fight anyone should the opportunity arise.
"I want this guy right here, Dubois, unification. If [Kabayel] wins his next fight ... I want him. Frank Sanchez will wait, get another step-aside, make money without fighting and everyone's happy," Hrgovic said when asked about what's next.
Cuba's Sanchez (26-1, 19 KOs) is the IBF's mandatory challenger after his second-round stoppage of Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez on the Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven undercard May 23.
The 34-year-old was reportedly paid a seven-figure step-aside fee to allow Itauma-Hrgovic for a vacant world title following news Oleksandr Usyk relinquished his sanctioning body titles in June.
"There's an obligation [to fight Sanchez next], but if we can work it out, we will," Warren responded before Kabayel praised Hrgovic for a "perfect" performance.
"This year, why not? I'm ready, I'll fight everyone, Kurdish fight with Croatian power ... let's go," Kabayel said.
He hasn't featured since stopping Damian Knyba in three rounds on January 10 in Oberhausen, Germany. During the DAZN broadcast, the 33-year-old said there's hope to have a fight announcement next week.
It's expected he will return to Germany for a maiden title defense against Albania's Nelson Hysa (25-0, 23 KOs), who stopped unbeaten Norwegian Thomas Narmo in two rounds before a heated exchange with Kabayel ringside.
Hrgovic, who'll need to heal and recuperate after contrasting stoppage wins against Brits following consecutive training camps, asked Warren if he could have a Croatian homecoming.
"We will do our best to make it happen. You deserve it as the champion, well done," Warren said.
"Against all odds ... coming in London against the most talented young guy in the world, a killer southpaw, they call him the new Mike Tyson, 34 years [old] and making this [world title win] is incredible."
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