Filip Hrgovic was amused at his opponent, David Adeleye, labeling him as arrogant ahead of their 10-round heavyweight fight tonight at the ANB Arena in Riyadh.
Hrgovic (18-1, 14 KOs) has gotten on Adeleye’s nerves during the build-up with his dismissive attitude toward him, treating him as just another one of his many opponents that he’s rolled over. At the final press conference, the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Hrgovic predicted that he would “destroy” Adeleye. That comment set the British fighter off like a fire.
Arrogance Fuels Hrgovic’s Success
“I’ve achieved a lot with my arrogance. So, I’ll continue to do it,” said Filip Hrgovic to BoxNation, reacting to David Adeleye saying his “arrogance could come back and bite him on his a**.”
The pace of the fight could be a problem for Hrgovic if Adeleye can force the older fighter to work for three minutes of each round. That’s his best chance of winning.
Adeleye, 28, is the fresher, younger fighter of the two, and he’s a bigger puncher than the 33-year-old Hrgovic. The experience advantage that Filip has could play a big part in the outcome. Adeleye has fought only one notable opponent during his six-year professional career, Fabio Wardley, and was knocked out in seven rounds on October 28, 2023.
Adeleye didn’t have a true amateur career, as he only had one fight before turning pro in 2019. So, he’s been learning on the job in his short six-year career, getting by a combination of power and weak matchmaking. Again, Wardley is the only quality opponent David has fought, and he fell apart under the pressure in that loss.
Hrgovic was stopped on cuts in eight rounds by Daniel Dubois in 2024. Early on in that fight, the Croatia-born Hrgovic was effective, connecting with huge right hands to the head of Dubois. However, the cut that Filip suffered over his left eye and the fast pace of the fight wore him out.
Last Updated on 08/16/2025
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