While not known for his one-punch knockout power, Tony Bellew believes Filip Hrgovic could deliver a \u201cnasty\u201d finish if he faces one of Oleksandr Usyk\u2019s toughest challengers in recent times.<\/p>\n
The Croatian became his country\u2019s first world heavyweight champion in August, causing a sizable upset by stopping Moses Itauma in nine rounds.<\/p>\n
For the most part, Hrgovic was being thoroughly outboxed by the dynamic 21-year-old, whose speed and ring IQ seemed as if it would win him the fight.<\/p>\n
With Itauma becoming increasingly fatigued, though, Hrgovic capitalised on his opponent\u2019s exhaustion and managed to claim the vacant IBF title.<\/a><\/p>\n As a result, the 34-year-old\u2019s next outing is likely to be against mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, who is due his shot after agreeing step-aside money for the Itauma bout to be a world title fight.<\/p>\n Then, if Hrgovic successfully defends his title, Turki Alalshikh has expressed his interest in seeing \u2018El Animal\u2019 face former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven.<\/p>\n The Dutchman did, of course, give a terrific account of himself as he came remarkably close to defeating Usyk<\/a>, who ultimately scored an 11th-round stoppage in May.<\/p>\n Former world champion Bellew, meanwhile, has told Fight Your Corner that he believes Hrgovic would orchestrate a far more emphatic finish than the Ukrainian did.<\/p>\n \u201cHrgovic \u2013 by a nasty knockout.\u201d<\/p>\n Turki Alalshikh has some HUGE fights on his wishlist, so @CharIieParsons<\/a> got @jack_catt93<\/a> and @TonyBellew<\/a> to predict how they’d play out.<\/p>\n Which fight do you want to see most? \ud83e\udd14 pic.twitter.com\/ao2d5C6RVl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Fight Your Corner (@Fightcornershow) October 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n While the Croatian champion has said he would entertain a lucrative opportunity to face Verhoeven, it seems he is currently more eager to secure a unification match.<\/p>\n This could arrive via a rematch with Daniel Dubois, who must first retain his WBO world title in a second encounter with Fabio Wardley on October 17.<\/p>\n