Filip Hrgovic Vows to Repeat Croatia vs. England Euro 2008 History With Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua

Filip Hrgovic, the Croatian heavyweight titan, has been scheduled to fight Daniel Dubois on June 1st in Saudi Arabia for the 5 vs. 5 matchup between Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom and Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions. The timings of the event are yet to be announced, however, the venue has been confirmed to be the Kingdom Arena. Besides this, Hrgovic is already planning to take the fight against Anthony Joshua after his victory against Dubois and is hellbent on doing it on AJ’s home turf at Wembley.

In a bold challenge to Anthony Joshua, undefeated heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic has expressed his desire to secure a fight on British soil. Referencing Croatia’s unexpected 3-2 victory over England at Wembley Stadium in a Euro 2008 qualifier, Hrgovic seeks a similar upset, aiming to silence the home crowd and claim a decisive win over AJ. This statement signifies Hrgovic’s confidence and his intention to make a significant statement in the heavyweight division. So, what did he say?

Filip Hrgovic is looking to upset an entire British crowd

Heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic isn’t mincing words about his plans. Fresh off his next fight announcement, Hrgovic has set his sights on a massive showdown with Anthony Joshua. “Look, I’ll smash Dubois,” Hrgovic declared confidently. Dubois is his immediate opponent, but Hrgovic is already looking toward a potential blockbuster fight in September. “And then in September, I am coming to Wembley to fight Joshua,” said Hrgovic menacingly.

Hrgovic then referenced Croatia’s impressive 3-2 victory over England in the 2008 Euro Cup Qualifiers, which took place at Wembley Stadium in November 2007. The Croatian upset victory led to Steve McClaren, the British team’s manager, being fired the very next day. However, Hrgovic recalled the score of the match incorrectly to be 4-2.

“You remember when the Croatian football team came?” he asked the interviewer with a smirk. The reporter, seemingly a British citizen, replied with a hint of resignation, “Sadly, yes.” Hrgovic, reveling in the playful jab with a cold expressionless face, continued, “So I’m gonna do that again. I come to Wembley in front of 80,000 people, British people, and I’m gonna smash Joshua. That’s my plan.“

Filip Hrgovic’s comments are a clear challenge to Joshua. With his sights set on a September fight at Wembley Stadium, Hrgovic is positioning himself for a major upset against the British boxing star. However, Frank Warren has talked about how he doesn’t think Filip Hrgovic can get the victory against his heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois.

Frank Warren expects grit from Daniel Dubois

Frank Warren, veteran boxing promoter, is throwing his weight behind Daniel Dubois in his upcoming heavyweight clash against Filip Hrgovic who is being backed by his competitor Eddie Hearn. The June 1st fight has major implications, potentially serving as an IBF title eliminator. Dubois is coming off a confidence-boosting win over Jarrell Miller in December last year, silencing critics who questioned his mental toughness after a previous loss against Oleksandr Usyk.

Warren believes that Dubois can overcome Hrgovic if he repeats that display of grit. “If he can show some grit, I think he wins the fight,” Warren declared. He emphasized the importance of mental fortitude: “It’s down to him gritting his teeth, going out there and being the governor and using his advantages.” Drawing a comparison to boxing legend Frank Bruno, Warren explained, “Bruno didn’t have a bad chin, but he’d get caught and lose focus. When he won the title against McCall, the key was maintaining a high pace and using his jab.“

“Dubois has a great jab and a powerful punch,” Warren continued. “He’s got a good chin too, and that Usyk loss shouldn’t define him. It’s about digging deep and getting the job done,” conveyed the veteran promoter. This is supposedly one of the best fights in the entire roster for the upcoming event and determines who will go on to fight Anthony Joshua and then a title fight.

What are your thoughts about this? Who do you think will win – Filip Hrgovic or Daniel Dubois? Tell us in the comments section.