Filip Hrgovic fights Daniel Dubois in a crucial heavyweight clash tonight, with the IBF interim world title on the line.
The bout forms part of the Matchroom vs Queensberry 5v5: card, with promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren each selecting five fighters to do battle and attempt to secure bragging rights in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A point will go to the winner of each fight, with two points if that victory comes by knockout.
IBF mandatory challenger Hrgovic has been made to wait for his world-title shot but a win over Dubois could ultimately prove enough for him to become champion. with If Oleksandr Usyk is stripped of his belt due to facing Tyson Fury for a second time later in December, rather than fulfilling his mandatory requirements, then the winner of Hrgovic vs Dubois would be upgraded to world champion.
Regardless of when or if that happens, whoever comes out on top on Saturday night is expected to face Anthony Joshua later this year.
Hrgovic has fought just three times since the end of 2021, with his last bout a stoppage win over Mark de Mori inside a round. That took the 31-year-old’s record to 17-0 with 14 wins inside the distance, but he is perhaps fortunate to still be unbeaten after edging a controversial points decision against Zhilei Zhang in 2022.
Dubois (20-2) stopped Jarrell Miller in the final ten seconds of their bout last December, in what was the 26-year-old’s first return to the ring since he was beaten by Usyk when challenging the for the Ukrainian’s world titles.
The Briton earned plenty of plaudits for his display in that bout though, with some believing it was unfortunate that a body shot that dropped Usyk was deemed a low blow, and Dubois has rebuilt his career well since losing to Joe Joyce in disappointing fashion four years ago.
Dubois vs Hrgovic date, start time, venue and ring walks
Dubois vs Hrgovic features on the Matchroom vs Queensberry 5v5 event, which takes place tonight, Saturday June 1, 2024 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The action is set to get underway from 7pm BST on the night, 2pm ET and 9pm local time.
How to watch Dubois vs Hrgovic
TV channel: In the UK, Saturday night’s event is being broadcast live on DAZN pay-per-view and TNT Sports Box Office at a cost of £21.99.
