Boxing: Dubois Stops Begovic To Win Interim IBF Title

By: Gyang Dakwo

Britain’s Daniel Dubois took a huge step towards heavyweight world title contention after stopping IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic in the eighth round of their fight in Riyadh on Sunday.

Referee John Latham intervened 57 seconds into the round on doctors’ advice at the Kingdom Arena with the big Croatian bleeding from cuts over the eyes.

The fight was for the interim belt, which could become a world championship title if Ukraine’s undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk relinquishes his or is stripped by the sanctioning body.

The defeat was a professional first for Hrgovic, who now has a record of 17-1 while Dubois has 21 wins and two defeats, including a loss to Usyk in August.

Deontay Wilder meanwhile saw his hopes of a potential showdown with Anthony Joshua fade away as he suffered a fifth-round knockout defeat to Zhilei Zhang in the night’s main event.

That fight could instead now fall to Dubois, who seemingly put himself in pole position for a title fight against the former unified champion.