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Filip Hrgović becomes Croatia’s first world heavyweight champion after dramatic comeback
🇭🇷 Croatia /Sports

Filip Hrgović becomes Croatia’s first world heavyweight champion after dramatic comeback

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Filip Hrgović won a world heavyweight title in London with a ninth-round knockout before about 20,000 supporters of his opponent.
  • The Croatian fighter said the victory followed years of setbacks and came after he considered quitting boxing following a 2024 loss to Daniel Dubois.
  • Hrgović credited his late father, his wife Marinela and his wider family and team for supporting his return.

Filip Hrgović spent eight rounds losing ground in the ring before turning the fight around in the ninth. The knockout at London’s O2 Arena made him Croatia’s first world heavyweight champion.

The victory came in front of about 20,000 fans supporting the local fighter. Hrgović, once a world junior champion, had endured 16 years of victories, defeats, setbacks and missed opportunities before finally winning a major heavyweight title.

This fight is in some way a picture of my career, in which people passed me over, harassed me and ignored me.

— Filip HrgovićHrgović linked the comeback victory to the setbacks he experienced during his career.

He said he had considered leaving boxing after losing a June 2024 fight for the interim world title to Daniel Dubois. Hrgović entered that bout short of peak condition because of an eyebrow injury and flu, and said medical examinations after the defeat left him somewhat depressed. The birth of his daughter gave him another reason to continue.

I lost rounds, took punches, all sorts of things happened to me, but I endured everything and succeeded.

— Filip HrgovićHe described how he overcame a difficult fight and years of adversity.

“This fight is in some way a picture of my career, in which people passed me over, harassed me and ignored me,” Hrgović said. “I lost rounds, took punches, all sorts of things happened to me, but I endured everything and succeeded.” He described the bout as his last chance to fight for a world championship.

Hrgović also dedicated the achievement to his late father, whom he called his greatest supporter. He praised his wife, Marinela, for supporting both their household and his career by managing travel, accommodation, business contacts and media appearances. After the long-awaited win, he said, “I am overjoyed. I cannot believe I achieved my dream after 20 years of my career.”

I am overjoyed. I cannot believe I achieved my dream after 20 years of my career.

— Filip HrgovićHrgović spoke after winning the world heavyweight title.
About this summary

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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