Filip Hrgovic made sure the Doncaster crowd knew exactly who they were dealing with. In front of 4,000 mostly local fans at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday, the Olympic bronze medalist dismantled Dave Allen in two minutes of the third round. The stoppage wasn’t close. Hrgovic started strong, dropped Allen with a left hook in the first, then finished him with a clean right uppercut in the third. By the bell, Allen was on the canvas, the referee waving it off without a count. The crowd left stunned, and Hrgovic left no doubt about his intentions.

After the fight, Hrgovic addressed the disappointed home crowd with a rare moment of humility. “Sorry guys, I know I’m not the favorite guy round here,” he said. “It is what it is. That’s boxing.” It was a classy touch after dismantling a man in two minutes. But make no mistake—this wasn’t about being liked. It was about making a statement. “He was very open from the beginning, so I wanted to finish him fast to make a statement,” Hrgovic told reporters afterward. “I’m moving forward to becoming heavyweight champion of the world.”

Hrgovic sets sights on Itauma after Allen demolition

Less than 24 hours after the fight, Hrgovic named his next target: unbeaten heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma. The 23-year-old Itauma, known as “Bigfoot” for his 6’9” frame, is undefeated in 12 pro fights and considered the division’s brightest young star. Hrgovic didn’t mince words. “Moses never reached the promised land!” he declared. “I want to fight with anyone in the division, Moses, anyone.”

The timing could be perfect. Hrgovic says he’s healthy and ready to go as soon as August—if no cuts or injuries pop up. Queensberry Promotions’ George Warren confirmed the fight is not just talk. “That fight’s there, it’s done,” Warren said. “Filip, when he re-signed with Queensberry, contracted with them on the basis that that was one of the options we could put to him.” Warren added: “As soon as we’re back in the office, that’s my job—to try and get that fight made and get it announced.”

Why this fight matters in the heavyweight division

This isn’t just another heavyweight tune-up. Hrgovic (16-0, 13 KOs) is a former amateur star who’s already faced top names like Daniel Dubois, who now holds the WBO title. A win over Itauma would put Hrgovic in the mix for a world title shot within a year. Itauma, meanwhile, has been knocking out opponents but hasn’t faced anyone of Hrgovic’s caliber. A victory for either would reshuffle the heavyweight rankings and set up a potential dream fight down the line.

Hrgovic’s promoter isn’t wasting time. Warren said the framework for the deal is already in place, meaning contract negotiations won’t drag on for months. That’s good news for fans hoping to see two of the division’s most exciting talents face off before summer ends. There’s no guarantee—boxing’s unpredictable—but all signs point to this fight happening.

What happens next?

For now, Hrgovic is taking it one fight at a time. He says he’s healthy and eager, and Warren is already working behind the scenes to make the Itauma matchup official. If the stars align, the fight could be announced within weeks and take place in August. Allen’s fight was just the appetizer. The main course? A potential heavyweight classic between two of the most promising fighters in the world.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Sky Sports
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 07:00 UTC
  • Category: Sports
  • Topics: #sky-sports · #football · #premier-league · #hrgovic · #itauma · #allen

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O boxe brasileiro pode ganhar um novo capítulo emocionante ainda neste ano, com a possível estreia do croata Filip Hrgovic no cenário nacional em uma luta de alto nível. Após dominar o britânico Dave Allen com um nocaute impressionante em apenas três rounds, Hrgovic já mira seu próximo desafio: um duelo contra o promissor Moses Itauma, uma das grandes promessas do boxe mundial, com data marcada para agosto.

O confronto tem tudo para atrair a atenção dos fãs brasileiros, não só pelo nível técnico dos lutadores, mas também pela projeção de Itauma, que, aos 20 anos, já é considerado um dos pesos pesados mais talentosos da atualidade. Para o Brasil, a luta poderia representar mais um passo na consolidação do boxe nacional no cenário internacional, além de ser uma vitrine para o esporte no país. A rivalidade entre Hrgovic e Itauma não apenas elevaria o nível das disputas na categoria, como também poderia atrair patrocinadores e mídia para o boxe brasileiro, que há tempos busca um novo ídolo para seguir.

Agora, resta confirmar a realização da luta e torcer para que o evento possa ser transmitido para o público brasileiro.