Filip Hrgovic Hungry for a Step-Up Fight and Targets Zhilei Zhang!
It’s always refreshing when a boxer can give an honest assessment of themselves as well as show a desire for growth. This is exactly the vibes and demeanor that heavyweight Filip “El Animal” Hrgovic (14-0, 12 KO’s) exhibited in a recent interview with iFL TV.
Hrgovic, who is ranked #3 (IBF), #9 (WBC), #11 (WBA) and #12 (WBO), is fresh off his third round knockout of unknown contender Emir Ahmatovic. While the heavy-handed Croatian is happy to have gotten the work and collected the scalp, he is anything but pleased with the level of competition. In his mind, he is very ready to sharpen his teeth on more distinguished opposition right now.
“Yeah, good solid night, I expected to win. It was just a stay busy, stay active fight. Emir was brave, he did his best but this is a different level.
“Yes I think I train too hard for this kind of fight. With this kind of fight I am wasting my talent and wasting my time. I need good fight to grow my potential and to improve.”
This does not mean that El Animal fancies himself prepared to shoot for the belt holding champions. He is down to Earth enough to realize that he needs more experience in the higher altitude dust-ups before he attempts to dethrone any of the division’s big dogs.
“Wait man, it’s not time for [Oleksandr] Usyk or [Anthony] Joshua. I need good step up fight [Zhilei] Zhang would be great, Luis Ortiz, I don’t know [Derek] Chisora, [Joseph] Parker or someone like that.
“I need one or two or three of these kind of fights and then I will be ready for a world title. But first I send a message to my promoters who are behind cameras, give me good fight! I’m ready!”
THE CHINESE CONNECTION
There seems to be little doubt that Hrgovic would happily chuck knuckles with any of the boxers that he named. However, “Big Bang” Zhang was the name first and last out of his mouth.
“Yeah I fight him in China no problem! I already fought in China a long time ago in the amateurs and no problem for me to go to China. I can go with car from Croatia if necessary.”
Zhang is himself coming off a second round knockout win over Craig Lewis. That prizefight took place on the undercard of the high profile George Kambosos versus Teofimo Lopez bout. For his sake and ours let’s hope that Hrgovic can secure the level of prizefight that he is looking for.
Yet, while he may be saying all the right things, he certainly is taking everything with a measure of salt. Here’s to hoping that 2022 is the year of change!
“They say massive every year. Every year is [massive] and nothing happen man!”
Reading Time: 3 minutes
By: Bakari Simpson
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