In a storybook finish, underdog Daniel Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) walked through fire to defeat Filip Hrgovic (17-1, 14 KOs) by an eighth-round stoppage to capture the IBF interim heavyweight title at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Both heavyweight punchers exchanged big shots in the early rounds, with Hrgovic, 31, getting the better of the action with his more accurate punches to the head of the younger fighter, 26-year-old Dubois.
The punches that Hrgovic landed in the first four rounds would have knocked out many heavyweights in the division, but Dubois was not going to be denied this time.
Hrgovic was caught by a punch from Dubois over his right eye in the second round, and that seemed to motivate the younger fighter. Seeing the blood seemed to encourage Dubois, who began unloading big shots and walking through the hard punches that Hrgogic was landing without flinching.
In the fourth round, Hrgovic hit Dubois with a perfectly placed right hand, but he was immediately countered with a right hand that snapped his head back, sending blood flying into the crowd. The punch from Dubois seemed to take something out of Hrgovic as he started tiring.
Turning Tide
Where the fight turned was in the seventh when an exhausted looking Hrgovic, bleeding from both eyes, was stunned by a right hand from Dubois. The crowd immediately started screaming.
From there, Dubois’ confidence soared, and he went for the finish, hitting the weary looking Hrgovic with punch, rocking him with each shot and not missing any of his punches.
The fight ended quickly in the eighth round with Dubois continuing to apply pressure, and hammering the bloody & battered Hrgovic with shots. The referee, seeing how Hrgovic was defenseless had the ringside doctor examine his cuts and the fight was then halted. The time came at :57 of round eight.
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