Having previously shared the ring with Hrgovic and sparred extensively with Dubois, Allen possesses a unique insider’s view of the strengths, vulnerabilities, and tactical nuances that define both men. His assessment comes amid a shifting landscape in the heavyweight division, where both fighters have experienced dramatic career highs and testing setbacks in recent years.
The history between Hrgovic and Dubois dates back to their thrilling first encounter in June 2024. In that bout, the Croatian contender started brightly, imposing his physicality and landing sharp blows in the early exchanges. However, Dubois displayed his trademark resilience, absorbing the early pressure and steadily gathering momentum as the championship rounds approached.
The turning point arrived in the eighth round. After a thorough assessment by the ringside doctor, it was deemed unsafe for Hrgovic to continue due to severe cuts that had opened up over both of his eyes. The stoppage handed Dubois an impressive victory, propelling him into a high-profile stretch of fights. Following that win, Dubois secured a fifth-round finish over Anthony Joshua, though he subsequently suffered a defeat by the same result against Oleksandr Usyk in his next outing.
Despite those tests, "Dynamite" rebounded in stellar fashion, cementing his status among the elite by surviving two early knockdowns to score a dramatic 11th-round stoppage against Fabio Wardley, a performance that added the WBO title to his resume. Their subsequent rematch proved far more emphatic. Dubois retained his championship with a blistering second-round finish, setting the stage for a tense, face-to-face confrontation with IBF champion Hrgovic that ignited immediate talk of a unification clash.
With fans and pundits speculating about a definitive third meeting or a grand unification showdown between the two heavyweights, Allen took to social media to break down the matchup from a tactical standpoint. Drawing on his firsthand experience of facing both athletes, the popular British heavyweight did not hesitate in picking a definitive favorite.
"I have to go Dubois," Allen stated on social media. "I don’t think Hrgovic has the power to win; I think it’s a bad style matchup for him. I think Dubois is too relentless, and he will always overwhelm Hrgovic and, without the cuts, probably outpoint him. But the cuts are an issue for Hrgovic every time he boxes."
Allen’s analysis highlights the persistent durability concerns that have plagued Hrgovic during key moments of his professional career. While the Croatian possesses elite technical skills and a formidable amateur pedigree, his susceptibility to facial lacerations has repeatedly threatened to derail his momentum on the biggest stages. Dubois, conversely, is known for his relentless forward pressure, heavy hands, and an ability to break opponents down over the course of a fight through sheer volume and sustained aggression.
For Hrgovic, however, career momentum remains high despite past setbacks. Following a tough third-round finish against Allen earlier this year, the Croatian bounced back in remarkable fashion by pulling off a major upset against the heavily touted Moses Itauma, stopping the rising star in nine rounds. That statement victory earned Hrgovic the vacant IBF heavyweight title in August, cementing his position at the very top of the sanctioning body’s rankings.
Looking ahead, the newly crowned IBF champion is already preparing for the next phase of his career. Hrgovic is scheduled to make a mandatory defense of his title against fellow 34-year-old contender Frank Sanchez in early 2027. As both Hrgovic and Dubois continue to navigate the upper echelons of the heavyweight division, the possibility of another collision between them remains a tantalizing prospect for boxing fans worldwide, with veterans like Allen convinced that Dubois holds the crucial stylistic advantages to prevail once again.
