Filip Hrgovic breezed through Dave Allen inside three rounds of their heavyweight contest at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster, England. Moses Itauma looks likely to be next for the victorious Croatian.
The contest, pitting one of the world’s top 10 heavyweights against a British fighter who is yet to win a domestic title, had raised eyebrows from the moment it was announced. Allen was beaten handily by Arslanbek Makhmudov in October, and Hrgovic - another rise in class - was seen as a step too far.
That is exactly what it turned out to be with the fight, such was the levels between them, somewhat uncomfortable to watch. That sentiment was shared by some last weekend when Fabio Wardley was stopped in the 11th round by Daniel Dubois following a titanic bout that surely lasted a little too long. Mercifully, this one ended at the right time. Wardley’s trainer Ben Davison had received criticism about his decision not to pull out his fighter when the contest looked beyond the reach of Wardley. Allen’s trainer, however, seemed to make his mind up early that it wasn’t his man’s night and threw in the towel at 2:37 of round three before things turned really ugly and with Allen, typically, still on his feet.
The gap between the two could be seen from the off with Hrgovic, 33, planting three consecutive right hands into Allen’s face. The Briton, 34, wildly threw an overhand right, but it was way off target and the favorite smashed another right into Allen’s face.
Hrgovic's victory seemed inevitable from as early as the second session, with Hrgovic teeing off on Allen at will while the Doncaster man desperately tried to cover up. The 2016 Olympic bronze medallist switched his attacks to the body, landing left to Allen’s midsection before buckling his opponent's legs with another stiff right.
The third was uncomfortable to say the least. Hrgovic was now landing hard, and often, to wherever he wanted on Allen’s body. The crowd went silent as the Croatian cracked in a left hook that sent Allen’s legs into a spin. Allen crumbled to the floor from the shot and the referee Steve Grey strangely ruled Allen had slipped. Allen climbed to his feet, but he knew he was in trouble.
Hrgovic edged forwards and threw everything he had, landing every shot, pinging Allen’s head from left to right. Allen’s trainer Moore seemed to have a conversation with Grey about stopping the contest from across the ring. Hrgovic then thumped Allen with another left, followed by a right, and Moore rightly threw in the towel. The crowd booed as Allen was handed the ninth defeat of his career, but it was the correct call.
Allen, now 25-9-2 (20 KOs), then answered the boos about Moore's decision to rescue his man following the contest.
“Jamie is like my brother, I love him to death,” Allen said. “These are my fucking family. If Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis say it’s enough then it’s enough. Thank you for looking after me.”
The victorious Hrgovic, now 20-1 (15 KOs), then apologised to the crowd following his win.
“Sorry guys, I know I’m not the favorite guy here,” he said. “Thank you Dave Allen for this great event.”
Talk then turned to contest more fitting of Hrgovic’s talents. There had been reports that Hrgovic could face rising heavyweight star Moses Itauma on August 8 – should he come through the contest with minimal damage. Queensberry's George Warren confirmed that the contest is close to being secured.
“[I’ll fight] Moses Itauma, anyone, I’ll have a chat with my team,” said Hrgovic. “I don’t think there are any cuts. I’ll sign the contract now. I will speak to my team first. I will fight any man.”
Beforehand, Michael Gomez Jnr stopped Lee McGregor inside six rounds. Gomez Jnr, 23-2 (7 KOs), has looked impressive since moving up to 135lbs and scored his biggest win over the once highly touted McGregor. It was a war from the off, with neither taking advantage of the 20-square-feet ring and fighting up close. Both men were landing, but McGregor was struggling to deal with Gomez Jnr’s power whilst his own seemed to bounce off the Manchester fighter. Scotland’s McGregor suffered damage to his right eye from early on and by the sixth it was swollen shut. Gomez Jnr then started to tee off, and with little coming back, the referee Michael Alexander jumped in at 2:36 of round six. McGregor fell to 16-3-1 (11 KOs) with the defeat.
Louie O'Doherty successfully defended his British lightweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Ahmed Hatim, now 12-1 (3 KOs). The bout was an entertaining one, with both fighters locking horns from the start. The shorter and stockier O’Doherty had the better of the action, and bullied Hatim around the ring.
The scores read 119-109 and 118-110, twice to the now 12-0 (3 KOs) O’Doherty.
