Hrgovic Vows to Shut Down Dubois in March Rematch After Itauma Performance

Filip Hrgovic believes Daniel Dubois will feel like “slow motion” following his recent bout with Moses Itauma, and he’s calling for a March rematch after their tense face-off earlier tonight. Dubois’s dominant second-round stoppage of Fabio Wardley did little to convince the Croatian, who questioned whether Wardley had fully recovered from their previous encounter.

“I was not impressed,” Hrgovic said afterward. “Something wasn’t right, and it was an easy job for Daniel. I want to fight him.”

Hrgovic argues that Dubois should be available in March since he emerged from Sunday’s fight without serious injury. That timeline remains his preferred target, though no official agreement has been reached.

Of greater interest is what Hrgovic believes his victory over Itauma has revealed about his readiness for Dubois. Having adjusted to the younger heavyweight’s speed, he expects to have ample time to read Dubois’s attacks.

“I think after Moses, fighting Daniel will be like slow motion, man.”

While acknowledging Dubois’s power, solid jab, and toughness, Hrgovic has outlined a tactical plan to negate those strengths.

“I will defend his jab,” Hrgovic said. “I will push him to go backwards, not allow him to go forward. I will control him with the jab, move my head, block his jab.”

Executing that strategy will require more than simply adapting to a faster opponent. Hrgovic must consistently slip and move his head when Dubois begins his combinations, especially if he’s advancing forward. Pressing the action aggressively could leave him walking directly into the same overhand right he aims to neutralize.

Hrgovic also suggested he was dealing with illness and cuts from their first meeting, blaming Dubois’s head movement for his injuries. He’s confident a rematch will yield a different result.

“I think I will destroy him next fight.”

If Hrgovic turns the contest into a close-quarters brawl, he stands a genuine chance. History shows that when Dubois is forced into messy exchanges where he absorbs heavy shots, his confidence tends to fluctuate.

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