Filip Hrgovic

Bio

Right then, Filip Hrgovic is the veteran Croatian heavyweight who should already have had a world title shot. A 2016 Olympic bronze medallist and a Matchroom / now Queensberry heavyweight for most of his professional career, he built up to 17-0 with real wins over Zhilei Zhang and Demsey McKean before running into Daniel Dubois in an IBF eliminator that he probably edged on work rate but lost via stoppage. Since then he's rebuilt with a win over Mario Heredia and an ugly one over Alexander Dimitrenko.

Make no mistake, Hrgovic is old-school — jab, straight right, body work, good under fire, not a thriller to watch but genuinely hard to beat for most of the top 15. He fights out of Croatia, trains with Pedro Diaz in Miami, and at 33 he's finally in position to force the issue: his May 16 Doncaster fight with Dave Allen carries a contract clause that sends the winner into a fight with Moses Itauma, Daniel Dubois, Fabio Wardley or Agit Kabayel.

Hrgovic is one win away from the biggest payday of his career. If you know, you know — he's been waiting for this door to open for two years, and it's finally here.