Hrgovic halted Moses Itauma to claim the vacant IBF heavyweight world title back in August, marking a massive milestone in his professional career and catapulting him to the summit of the sport. However, the newly crowned champion cannot afford to rest on his laurels, as he must now fulfil his mandatory obligations and face Cuba’s Frank Sanchez. Sanchez had originally stepped aside earlier this year to allow Hrgovic and Itauma to compete for the vacant belt, paving the way for the explosive showdown that ultimately crowned Hrgovic.
Should the Croatian come through his upcoming encounter with Sanchez unscathed, Hrgovic has made it crystal clear that unification bouts are firmly on his mind. Looking ahead at the landscape of the heavyweight division, he has mapped out potential future matchups, where he would presumably seek a rematch with WBO champion Daniel Dubois in the UK or travel to Germany for a high-stakes clash with WBC world champion Agit Kabayel.
The Croatian has been generally complimentary of both men—despite previously stating during media appearances that he would "smash" the Brit given the chance. However, another prominent champion currently operating within the division did not receive nearly as much praise from the outspoken heavyweight.
While appearing on the DAZN broadcast of Dubois’s most recent triumph, Hrgovic seemed thoroughly unimpressed by two-division conqueror and reigning WBA heavyweight world champion Murat Gassiev, whom he bluntly told to "go back to cruiserweight."
During his assessment of the division’s current hierarchy, Hrgovic did not mince words regarding the Russian fighter, offering a sharp critique of his physical stature and his credentials at heavyweight.
"He is a midget from Russia. He doesn’t belong here, he needs to go back to cruiserweight," Hrgovic remarked during the broadcast.
The remarks add further intrigue to the complicated politics of the heavyweight division, particularly regarding the status of the WBA world title. It was previously believed that Gassiev was elevated from his status as the WBA (Regular) champion to become the full WBA heavyweight world champion when unified king Oleksandr Usyk vacated his three world titles earlier this year to pursue other career paths.
Yet, the recent and controversial decision by sanctioning bodies to place a vacant WBA (Super) title on the upcoming high-profile showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has significantly lessened Gassiev’s recognition as a genuine, undisputed world champion in the eyes of many fighters and pundits, including Hrgovic.
Despite the skepticism surrounding his championship status and the harsh words from rivals like Hrgovic, the Russian has continued to remain active in the ring. Gassiev successfully defended his version of the WBA heavyweight belt with a dominant knockout victory over Peter Kadiru back in July. He is expected to step back between the ropes to fight again in the coming months as he attempts to solidify his standing in the division, with either veteran British contender Derek Chisora or American puncher Jarrell Miller heavily anticipated to be his next opponent.
