The Croatian returns in Doncaster against Allen, but is already pointing to what comes next, citing specific names written into his contract.
“I have in contract a few names that must get delivered,” Hrgovic said to Boxing King Media. “Moses [Itauma], Agit [Kabayel], [Daniel] Dubois, [Fabio] Wardley. Four, five names that must be delivered. It’s guaranteed.”
The agreement, part of his new deal with Queensberry, ties his next move directly to a win over Allen. Hrgovic added that the outcome of other heavyweight fights will influence which name is delivered.
For Hrgovic, this fight is the mandatory gateway to the elite opportunities he has been promised. While Allen suffered a setback against Arslanbek Makhmudov last year, his recent February victory has restored some momentum.
In talking about his fight with Allen, Hrgovic looked and sounded like a man who had been told he had to do chores before he could go out and play.
At the press conference yesterday, Hrgovic didn’t even try to hide his lack of enthusiasm. He admitted straight up that he wasn’t expecting this fight and was actually calling for those bigger names like Wardley or a Dubois rematch.
“I was hoping for those fights, but this was on the table, it was a great deal from Queensberry, and I accepted,” Hrgovic said.
“We’ll see what happens with Wardley-Dubois, Moses, and Agit. But we have an obligation that I must face one of these guys later in the year.”
Several of the names mentioned are already tied to separate timelines. Moses Itauma is expected to return in July, while Agit Kabayel is positioned near a WBC title shot. Fabio Wardley is scheduled to face Daniel Dubois, with the result potentially shaping Hrgovic’s options.
If Hrgovic keeps underperforming, he might find himself used as a “test” for their younger lions like Itauma rather than being treated as the co-star of a massive event.
He’s talking like a man who still thinks he’s the “Boogeyman” of the division, but the recent tape suggests the Boogeyman might be losing his teeth.
