Hrgovic stops McKean in 12 to cement IBF mandatory position
Photo credit: Matchroom Boxing/Mark Robinson
Filip Hrgovic plans to be at ringside in Poland to watch Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois fight for the world title after cementing his position as the mandatory challenger for the IBF belt.
El Animal stopped Demsey McKean in the 12th round on Saturday night, at the O2 Arena in London to confirm that he will be next in line for a shot at the winner of Usyk and Dubois.
Croatian hero Hrgovic moved to 16-0 with his thudding TKO of the brave McKean and instantly turned his attention to his shot at the IBF world title.
The 31-year-old says he will attend Usyk vs Dubois on August 26 and hopes the winner "follows the rules" and fights him next.
Hrgovic said: "I hope it happens, I should fight Usyk next, I deserve that.
"I will go there to watch that fight from ringside. I see Usyk as the big favourite to win that fight because he is quicker and he is a really good fighter, but Dubois is a good puncher, a big guy with a straight right hand, so you never know.
"My message is: follow the rules and the winner should fight me next."
Hrgovic had to bide his time against a tough McKean but after landing a heavy right hook in the final round, the referee stepped in at 1:01 to call the contest off.
Hrgovic added: "I am satisfied and the fact that he held a lot, that made the fight a little bit ugly. The referee should have given him at least one point deduction. He was holding too much, but he's a good fighter, brave and was really well prepared. But I was controlling the fight and was winning most of the rounds.
"I thought I was going to knock him out in the first six rounds but he did very well. He's a decent fighter. I was surprised that he took some good shots and kept coming and throwing punches."
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