Filip Hrgovic says Daniel Dubois and Zhilei Zhang aren’t the biggest punchers he has faced.
Hrgovic fought Dubois in June 2024 and was stopped inside seven rounds, which meant the Brit was elevated to full IBF champion.
Before that, the Croatian got a unanimous points win over Zhang in 2022 and has also beaten Demsey McKean, and most recently, Joe Joyce in April 2025.
Speaking to talkSPORT.com, Hrgovic revealed it was a fighter from his early days who landed the most powerful punches on him.
“I fought Zhang, who is considered a big puncher, but I didn’t feel his power. I didn’t feel any special power from Daniel Dubois. I have faced some guys in the amateurs and the WSB who were big punchers. Some guys who aren’t very famous. For example, this Romanian guy, Mihai Nistor. I don’t know what is going on with him. I haven’t seen him in a while. He was a big puncher, I always remember his power. But I have a really good chin and a big heart, and I don’t feel so much power for many.”
Romanian Nistor fought Hrgovic three times in the amateurs, but lost two of them. He is best known for being the first man to stop Anthony Joshua during the European Amateur championships in Turkey in 2011.
He turned pro in 2020 but was derailed by COVID and has since had just eight fights, the most recent being in 2024.
