Filip Hrgovic survives stiff challenge from Zhang Zhilei, wins unanimous decision
Filip Hrgovic had to work hard to maintain his perfect record.
The heavyweight contender survived a first-round knockdown and a determined Zhang Zhilei to win a unanimous decision on the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II card Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The scores were 115-112, 115-112 and 114-113. Boxing Junkie scored it 115-112 for Hrgovic, eight rounds to four.
Hrgovic (15-0, 12 KOs) suffered a flash knockdown in the opening round but it was a sign that this victory wouldn’t come easily.
The Croation outworked Zhang (24-1-1, 19 KOs) most of the fight but the Chinese fighter had effective stretches in which he landed some of the biggest shots of the evening.
However, Zhang seemed to run out of energy down the stretch, when Hrgovich outworked him to have his hand raised.
The victory bolsters Hrgovic’s chances of fighting the winner of the Usyk-Joshua rematch.
