Filip Hrgovic laid out his case for victory during today’s final press conference, saying that his advantage in amateur experience will lead him to victory over Daniel Dubois in their twelve-round heavyweight bout this Saturday, June 1st, in Riyadh.
Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) says he’s confident and that he’s going to take the 26-year-old Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs) “to school” in their match in the ‘5 vs. 5’ event, live on DAZN PPV at the Kingdom Arena.
Much has been made about Hrgovic sparring with Dubois seven years ago, and according to Filip, it was one-sided.
That was a long time ago, and it’s hard to make a case that it has any bearing on Saturday’s fight. Hrgovic will turn 32 next week, June 4th, and he’s older now.
Anthony Joshua will be in the audience on Saturday night to watch Hrgovic vs. Dubois, and he could fight the winner if the IBF belt is stripped from champion Oleksandr Usyk and made available. Joshua is expected to take a hard pass if that title isn’t available.
“I can’t take any more easy steps, no more bums. This is the level I need to be at, and I’m ready for it,” said Daniel Dubois at today’s final press conference, talking about his fight against Filip Hrgovic.
Dubois hasn’t been fighting bums. In his last fight, he stopped Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller, and in his one before that, he lost to Oleksandr Usyk. Daniel has been fighting better opposition than Hrgovic has, and that’s why he has two defeats on his resume. If Dubois had played it safe and fought the same opposition as Hrgovic, he’d still be undefeated and might have been the favorite.
“We have a history in sparring, but that was seven years ago. I’m here for this fight on Saturday, and I’m going to knock him out on Saturday. Not at all, I’m ready for him,” said Dubois when told that Hrgovic said he destroyed him in sparring.
“I’m glad he called me out and wanted to fight me. I was calling out top heavyweights and big names for, and it’s a really good fight for me,” said Hrgovic about Dubois wanting to fight him.
Hrgovic likely could have fought many talented contenders in the division. It’s not like no one wanted to fight him, but it’s worked out for him that he hasn’t fought a talent like Joshua, Tyson Fury, or Usyk because he’d likely have lost to them.
“He’s a good name and a good boxer, and I can’t wait for Saturday. I have much more experience; I had a long amateur career, and I come through more than him. So, I think he has more professional fights, but I have much more experience, and I think I take him to school,” said Hrgovic.
