Teledo, OH, USA (December 28, 2023) - Filip Hrgovic had undoubtedly positioned himself for a shot at the IBF world title. Yet, top heavyweight boxing's landscape often denies entitlements, leaving deserving contenders waiting in the wings.

Traditionally armed with a formidable left hook, Hrgovic’s recent strategy diverged; he consciously limited himself, playing the waiting game. With Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury locked into contractual obligations for their upcoming bouts, Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) opted for a different route—to stay active.

From this perspective, his efforts in 2023 have proven successful. His year commenced with a decisive 12th-round stoppage victory over Demsey McKean. Building on that momentum, he secured another win against easy foe Mark De Mori.

Following his emphatic first-round victory, Hrgovic made his ambitions clear: he aims for the winner between Usyk and Fury. Nevertheless, if the immediate opportunity doesn’t materialize, he remains open to maintaining an active fighting schedule.

The heavyweight division offers plenty of options, with Jared Anderson currently commanding the most attention outside the top 5 heavyweights. Despite Anderson’s glowing prospects and future potential, Hrgovic remains unperturbed. When questioned about Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs), the 31-year-old confidently stated his ability to dispatch him effortlessly.

Word of Hrgovic's dismissive stance reached Anderson, who responded not with fiery retorts but with a subtle cautionary message on social media.

“Be careful what you ask for,” cautioned Anderson on his Instagram account. “Be careful what you ask for.”