Hrgovic’s comments arrive less than two months before the highly anticipated showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. The two British heavyweights are scheduled to face each other on 11 December 2026 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

The IBF titleholder pointed specifically to Joshua's performance against Kristian Prenga in July. Although Joshua secured a knockout victory in a two-round contest in Riyadh, he was floored twice by his opponent early in the fight, a moment Hrgovic described as concerning.

Hrgovic stated, "I think he's done. He shouldn't be fighting anymore. But he wants to do, of course, one more fight. I think he's going to make a huge amount of money, and he's doing it because of that."

The 37-year-old Joshua has faced a challenging period in his career. Since his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, he has struggled to regain his status as a world-level contender, having fought only twice in the interim.

Beyond his recent ring performances, Joshua has navigated significant personal adversity, including injuries and the emotional toll of a car accident that resulted in the loss of two close friends. These factors have contributed to a difficult phase for the former champion.

Hrgovic emphasized the inherent dangers of the sport when discussing why he believes Joshua should consider retirement. He noted that boxing is fundamentally different from other sports, where athletes can prolong their careers despite declining physical attributes.

"It's a dangerous sport. It's a war. And I think you come to a point where you can't fight anymore. You can't mess around with boxing," Hrgovic added during the interview, reflecting on the risks involved at the elite level.

Looking ahead to the upcoming December clash, Hrgovic suggested that he does not expect the winner of the Joshua-Fury bout to pursue a unification fight with him. He believes both men are currently past their prime, regardless of the result.

The heavyweight division is currently undergoing a period of transition. While Joshua and Fury prepare for their December meeting, other titleholders, including WBO champion Daniel Dubois and WBC titleholder Agit Kabayel, remain active within the Queensberry Promotions stable.

Hrgovic, who holds a professional record of 21 wins and one defeat with 16 knockouts, also offered a critical assessment of the wider heavyweight landscape. He dismissed several other titleholders as "fake champions" during his assessment of the current division.

The Croatian specifically criticized Daniel Dubois, who recently secured a victory over Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena in London on 17 October. Hrgovic suggested that the current hierarchy of the division does not reflect true championship quality.

Despite the criticism from his peers, the focus remains firmly on the upcoming Cardiff event. The bout between Joshua and Fury is expected to be one of the most significant events in the 2026 boxing calendar, drawing massive global interest.

The Principality Stadium in Cardiff has been confirmed as the venue for the December encounter. The fight is expected to have implications for the WBA (Super) heavyweight title, adding further stakes to the long-awaited contest between the two rivals.

As the date approaches, the boxing world continues to debate the readiness of both fighters. While Hrgovic remains skeptical of Joshua's prospects, the upcoming bout will provide a definitive answer regarding the current standing of both men in the division.

The heavyweight landscape continues to evolve, with various promotional entities and fighters maneuvering for position. With unification bouts potentially on the horizon for 2027, the results of the final months of 2026 will be crucial for the division's future.

Hrgovic remains a key figure in the IBF rankings and continues to monitor the activities of his fellow champions. His recent comments highlight the intense scrutiny that top-tier heavyweights face as they navigate the later stages of their careers.

For now, the boxing community awaits the December 11 event in Cardiff. The outcome will likely shape the narrative for the heavyweight division heading into the new year, potentially setting the stage for further unification opportunities.

The sport of boxing remains as unpredictable as ever, with veteran fighters often facing difficult decisions regarding their future. Hrgovic’s intervention serves as a reminder of the high stakes involved in every professional appearance for these elite athletes.

As the year concludes, the focus will shift from the speculation surrounding Joshua's career to the reality of his performance in the ring against Fury, a fight that promises to be a defining moment for both competitors.

Itauma suffered his first loss in August at the O2 Arena in London, where he was defeated by the experienced Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic. The result denied the young Briton the chance to become the youngest heavyweight world champion since 1986.

Prior to the championship bout, Itauma had maintained an unblemished record of 14 victories, with an impressive 12 of those wins coming by way of stoppage. His rapid rise had established him as one of the most promising talents in the division.

Speaking in an interview South East and Radio Kent, Itauma reflected on the emotional toll of the defeat. He admitted that while the experience was painful, he is choosing to focus on the lessons learned from the high-stakes environment.

"I always say I'd rather be third than second because if you're third you know you couldn't be number one," Itauma said. "When you're second you know you could have been number one. So that's exactly how I feel. I'm just gutted."

Despite the disappointment, the heavyweight prospect remains optimistic about his future prospects. At only 21 years old and with 15 professional fights now behind him, he believes he has sufficient time to refine his craft and return to the top level.

The fight against Hrgovic provided a significant test for the young boxer. Although Itauma managed to exert control for large portions of the contest and even scored a knockdown in the second round, his high-output style eventually led to fatigue.

Hrgovic, a 34-year-old Olympic bronze medallist, entered the bout with a formidable record of 20 wins and only one defeat. Following the victory, the Croatian praised his opponent's natural ability while acknowledging the mental challenge of such a high-profile loss.

"It was a big shock for him, a big humiliation, so maybe it's the end of his career if he's not mentally tough," Hrgovic remarked. "If he recovers from this loss, mentally, it will be hard for anyone to ever beat him again."

Itauma views the loss as an essential developmental milestone that could not have been replicated in training or sparring. He maintains that the experience of facing elite-level pressure was a necessary step in his evolution as a professional athlete.

"It taught me a lot. I walked away from the fight knowing there was something I learnt there that I couldn't get from sparring, reading books or what the coach would be able to tell me," he explained.

Born in Slovakia to a Slovakian mother and Nigerian father, Itauma moved to Kent as a child. He has frequently spoken about his pride in his Chatham upbringing and the encouragement he has received from his local community throughout his career.

The boxer recounted a recent encounter at his local gym where a fan expressed admiration for his journey. He noted that such interactions reinforce his commitment to the sport and his desire to represent his roots on the world stage.

Looking ahead, Itauma has set a clear target for his next championship challenge. He stated that he is "100%" confident that he will be in a position to compete for another world title by the year 2027.

The fighter remains steadfast in his identity and professional goals. He emphasised that a single defeat does not diminish his long-term ambitions or his belief in his own capabilities within the competitive heavyweight landscape.

"My identity as a boxer is still deeply rooted in me. A loss is not going to change that," Itauma added. "I lost a boxing fight, that's it. Even though I didn't get the W, I'm proud of my performance."

The heavyweight division continues to be a focal point for boxing fans, with various promoters looking toward potential unification bouts in the coming years. Itauma remains a key figure in the conversation surrounding the future of the weight class.

As he prepares for his next steps, Itauma is focused on maintaining the intensity that brought him to the brink of a world title. His team is expected to outline his return to the ring in the coming months.

Promoter Frank Warren has recently discussed the broader landscape of the heavyweight division, including plans for potential unification bouts in 2027. These developments suggest a busy period ahead for the sport's premier weight class, with Itauma aiming to feature.

Itauma's resilience is being tested as he navigates the aftermath of his first professional setback. However, his public commitment to his craft suggests he is already looking past the disappointment of August toward future championship opportunities.

The heavyweight division's four major world titles are currently held by different champions. Warren notably promotes three of these prominent title-holders, giving his promotional stable immense leverage in orchestrating major fights over the coming seasons for boxing fans globally.

Daniel Dubois stands as one of Warren's key fighters, and he prepares to defend his WBO heavyweight belt against compatriot Fabio Wardley. The high-stakes championship encounter is scheduled to take place at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday evening.

The upcoming bout follows a thrilling first encounter between Dubois and Wardley that took place in Manchester five months ago. During that memorable contest, Dubois recovered from two early knockdowns before ultimately stopping his British rival in the eleventh round.

Warren spoke about his overarching vision for the division during an appearance on the 5 Live Boxing podcast. He emphasized that his primary goal is to make these major unification bouts happen while successfully luring Usyk back into competition.

"The plan is to make the unification fights happen and try to get Usyk back in it," Warren told the 5 Live Boxing podcast. The promoter specifically stressed that nobody can fairly accuse his promotional team of keeping top fighters apart.

In addition to managing Dubois, Warren also promotes WBC heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel and IBF title-holder Filip Hrgovic. The veteran promoter firmly believes that the winner of this weekend's clash will secure an exceptionally strong position for further honors.

Warren also revealed significant details regarding the anticipated showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. According to the promoter, the WBA super heavyweight championship will officially be at stake when the two British rivals meet in Cardiff on December 11.

"The WBA have put that belt up for them," Warren stated regarding the Cardiff bout. However, the relevant sanctioning body has not yet publicly confirmed this specific arrangement, maintaining Russia's Murat Gassiev as its sole recognized champion.

Gassiev could potentially be relegated to regular champion status if the WBA ultimately decides to award its primary super title to the winner of the Fury versus Joshua matchup. The heavyweight landscape remains dynamic as promotional talks continue to develop.

Oleksandr Usyk famously became the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the modern four-belt era. The Ukrainian secured this historic status by defeating Tyson Fury in a closely contested bout that took place back in May of 2024.

Since achieving undisputed status, Usyk has vacated his various world titles. This sequence of events has effectively left the heavyweight division wide open for a new generation of emerging champions to establish their dominance on the world stage.

The Ukrainian star also managed to narrowly escape a significant scare against combat sports novice Rico Verhoeven. That intriguing encounter took place in May, adding another chapter to Usyk's eventful period away from traditional title defenses.

Warren addressed the current rebuilding phase of British heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma. The young fighter is officially scheduled to return to the competitive boxing ring in January as he looks to rebound from his first career setback.

"He's fighting in January. We'll be announcing his fight in the next couple of weeks," Warren said regarding Itauma's imminent return. The promotional team intentionally took time to let the dust settle following the fighter's recent defeat.

Itauma suffered his maiden professional loss back in August when he was stopped in the ninth round by Croatia's Filip Hrgovic. That bout saw Hrgovic claim the vacant IBF heavyweight title after wearing down the fast-rising British contender.

The Chatham fighter had dominated the early exchanges of the contest before noticeably tiring in the later rounds. He was ultimately overwhelmed by his more experienced opponent, who capitalized on the fatigue to secure a stoppage victory.

Warren noted that he held a constructive meeting with the young fighter a couple of weeks ago. During their discussions, they evaluated what went wrong against Hrgovic and mapped out a sensible pathway for his future development.

Before his setback against Hrgovic, Itauma had compiled an impressive record of fourteen victories from fifteen professional appearances. Twelve of those prior wins had come via devastating knockouts, showcasing his immense punching power.

The Chatham-born athlete had been fast-tracked toward a world-title opportunity following a string of exceptionally destructive performances. Long touted as a future star of the heavyweight division, he now confronts a necessary rebuilding process.

"Moses comes back and has a fight and wants to be in the mix," Warren added while discussing the youngster's mindset. Despite being only 21 years of age, Itauma maintains a firm ambition to make 2027 his breakout year for world titles.

The broader heavyweight landscape continues to shift rapidly as various promoters position their stables for major matchups. Warren's strategic blueprint aims to capitalize on this competitive environment through disciplined matchmaking and timely championship opportunities across the board.