Homecoming King? Hrgovic's First IBF Defence Pointed at Croatia, With Frank Sanchez Waiting

Ringcard flip, darlings: ZAGREB, EARLY 2027? 🪧

REPORTED. The promoter's plan. Frank Warren told Playbook Boxing that the new IBF heavyweight champ's next stop is home. Per Boxing News, Warren said: "His reward is that we are going to put him on in Croatia. He wants to fight in Croatia." On the opponent: "We paid him [Frank Sanchez] to step aside for the [Itauma] fight so yeah [he will be the opponent]. So, we will do that in Croatia, I hope, we are just working on that and it's another big heavyweight world title fight."

"I hope" and "working on that." Darlings, that's a plan, not a poster. 💅

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REPORTED. The challenger is ready. Sanchez, the IBF's No. 1 contender, told Boxing News: "The news is that I am exercising my mandatory. The fight will happen as soon as Hrgovic is ready. I understand it may be December or January."

RUMOR. The venue. Croatian outlet 24sata reports ("doznajemo", meaning "we learn") that the defence should be at Arena Zagreb, with the fight expected in early 2027. Open stadiums aren't realistic in winter, and the new Kranjčevićeva stadium won't be ready until March, per Boxing News. BoxingScene also reports talks for early 2027. Nothing is signed, and there's no date.

Who else is circling the heavyweight belts? Catch the belt map in our Dubois piece and Fury-Joshua's WBA stakes. Then make your calls on this week's open Boxbid picks card.

Rumor-Meter

• Hrgovic vs. Sanchez in Croatia, early 2027: WARM (RUMOR). The promoter says it's the plan and the mandatory challenger is ready, but nothing is signed and there's no date or confirmed venue.

Whisper Update, Oct. 14: the kid who pushed Hrgovic is coming back. 🔁

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RUMOR (promoter talk). Itauma's return. Queensberry boss Frank Warren told PA, via ESPN (espn.com): "Moses will be back in January, if not before, but January's looking like the date." He also said: "I would like Moses to be in with a name to start with." No opponent has been named.

Why there's no rematch. Warren said: "He wanted a rematch with Filip which couldn't be done because Filip's got Frank Sanchez, who had agreed to step aside." So the Sanchez mandatory comes first, which is what we reported above.

The 2027 master plan. ESPN reports that Warren is plotting a series of fights next year involving Daniel Dubois, Fabio Wardley, Hrgovic and Agit Kabayel, to decide the No. 1 heavyweight. Warren said: "We're going to have the most unbelievable roster of heavyweight fights that leads to somebody holding the four belts by the end of next year." And: "There are no problems making the matches with any of these guys because they all want to hold the four belts. These fights will happen."

"These fights will happen," darlings. Promoters always say that. 💅

Saturday first. ESPN says there's no rematch clause in the contract for Dubois-Wardley 2 at The O2, but Warren is "certain there will be a decider" if Wardley wins. That line is ESPN's summary, not a direct quote from Warren. His prediction, in his own words: "one thing's for sure, it's not going the distance." For Dubois's own road to the belts, see our Dubois piece (on Boxbid). Boxer pages: Daniel Dubois (on Boxbid) and Agit Kabayel (on Boxbid).

Rumor-Meter update (Oct. 14)

• Itauma returns in January against "a name": WARM (RUMOR). The promoter says so, but there's no opponent or date.
• Warren's 2027 heavyweight series ending with four belts on one man: WARM (RUMOR). It's a promoter's plan, and none of it is signed.
• Hrgovic vs. Sanchez: unchanged at WARM. Warren confirms the mandatory is what's in the way of an Itauma rematch.

El Animal in Zagreb, or the Cuban spoils the party? Start a fan page or drop your pick in the Boxbid community. 👀

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