Following Daniel Dubois’s devastating and dominant two-round triumph in his high-profile heavyweight rematch against Fabio Wardley, fellow world champion Filip Hrgovic has made his intentions for his own career clear. The Croatian contender has his sights firmly set on a lucrative rematch with "DDD," but he will have to successfully navigate a dangerous mandatory defense against one specific man before he can secure that blockbuster bout.
Hrgovic famously captured the prestigious IBF world heavyweight throne by defeating Moses Itauma in what stands out as one of the most shocking and memorable moments of the 2026 boxing calendar. However, that vacant world title opportunity and subsequent championship bout were only made possible because Cuba’s elite heavyweight contender, Frank Sanchez, officially agreed to step aside and accept a step-aside fee, allowing the path to the championship to clear for Hrgovic and Itauma.
In the wake of that dramatic championship shift, the landscape of the heavyweight division has continued to evolve rapidly. Sanchez has since confirmed in statements to Boxing News that he will indeed be Hrgovic’s next opponent for his very first attempted title defense, having been strategically positioned as the official IBF mandatory challenger as an integral part of the step-aside agreement that allowed the championship fight to proceed in the first place.
Speaking extensively with BoxingScene, Hrgovic’s manager, Keith Connolly, has openly admitted that the mandatory defense against Sanchez is fully expected to materialize next. Furthermore, Connolly revealed that the championship encounter will likely take place in Croatia, marking a major homecoming event for the division’s elite puncher, despite significant public and divisional demand for "El Animal" to immediately run it back with Dubois in a massive unification showdown and attempt to avenge his difficult 2024 defeat.
Providing insight into the team’s strategic roadmap, Connolly outlined the reasoning behind prioritizing the mandatory challenger before chasing unification glory.
“I think the likelihood is it’s Sanchez and in Croatia,” Connolly explained to BoxingScene. “It’ll be great for Filip to have a homecoming fight. I think the Croatian people deserve it and so does Filip. Hrgovic would love that next. We’ll probably fight Sanchez and get that out of the way and then do the bigger fight afterwards. I think it builds up Filip anyway.”
This calculated approach ensures that Hrgovic satisfies his regulatory obligations with the IBF while simultaneously building immense local and international momentum. A homecoming defense in Croatia promises to be a monumental sporting spectacle for the region, capturing the imagination of sports fans across the country who have long awaited the opportunity to see their heavyweight champion defend a major world title on home soil. By clearing the mandatory hurdle first, Hrgovic protects his championship status and removes any potential political roadblocks that could otherwise complicate a future meeting with the division’s other top titleholders.
Whilst a unification clash with Hrgovic now looks to be entirely out of the question for Dubois’s mooted return to the ring in February, the British heavyweight’s current career timeline interestingly aligns with that of WBC heavyweight world champion Agit Kabayel. Kabayel is currently preparing to make his own first title defense against challenger Nelson Hysa next month, keeping the upper echelon of the heavyweight division exceptionally active as fighters jockey for position, mandatory positioning, and future undisputed or unification aspirations. As the division moves deeper into 2026, the outcomes of Hrgovic’s homecoming defense against Sanchez and Kabayel’s upcoming bout will undoubtedly set the stage for the next wave of defining heavyweight championship showdowns.
