Daniel Dubois defeated Filip Hrgovic in eight tough rounds Saturday night, banishing his mental demons. The 26-year-old, once considered a quitter, has made an extraordinary comeback.
Even though Dubois, 21-2 (20 KOs), had defeated Jarrell Miller in December, escaping a mid-round crisis to defeat the pudgy fringe contender in the 10th, suspicions persisted.
The 2020 concession by Joe Joyce and the apparent surrender versus Oleksandr Usyk last August only added to the mounting concerns. After his setback against the unheralded Kevin Lerena, it’s understandable why Hrgovic, who allegedly bested a then-19-year-old Dubois in an old sparring session, was favored to win. These past struggles have only made Dubois’ recent victory all the more significant, a testament to his resilience and determination.
Yet there were speculations that Hrgovic, now 31, had stalemated in the professional ranks and would break his boxing commitment.
Dubois’ hackles rose when reminded of his prior blunders in the buildup. Whether angry, confident, or insane, the Londoner answered the opening bell, seeking the knockout and swallowed right hand after right hand. Although Hrgovic couldn’t miss, Dubois kept going and landing many.
“I ate those shots and they just woke me up,” Dubois realized. Then I was on it. It said, “Don’t wait.”
The pair exchanged again in Round 2. Hrgovic, 17-1 (14 KOs), was improving until Dubois invited his jab to the party at the last minute. At the end of the session, Hrgovic, cut from a right hand, looked startled.
Dubois marched forward, receiving punches with odd indifference. While landing more, Hrgovic could not quiet Dubois, who went stronger.
Due to Dubois’ fanatical approach, one wondered what happened in those sparring sessions years ago. In the fifth, his forward drive and heavy, punishing head punches left Hrgovic exhausted. Dubois took more blows than he gave, but he never buckled. His work had a destiny-like quality that made him unbeatable.
The underdog gained confidence in the sixth. Round 7 saw Dubois unleash nasty shots for fun. As Hrgovic’s skull bled, the skin began to peel off. The pre-fight favorite had to take punch after punch, each one hitting like an axe in a tree.
Although the fall seemed unavoidable, Hrgovic fought back. In Round 8, Dubois was unbeatable. The referee called the doctor to stop the fight.
It was the night’s best performance.
“I come from rock bottom, and now I’m back on top,” Dubois remarked.
According to my sources, Anthony Joshua is the next opponent. This is my time.”
Two weeks after Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in a historic fight for all the belts, the IBF “interim” heavyweight title was at stake. Usyk wants to delay his mandatory defense to rematch Fury on Dec. 21. The sanctioning body has yet to decide.
