Filip Hrgović (born 4 June 1992) is a Croatian professional boxer.
Filip was born on 4 June 1992 in Zagreb, Croatia, to Petar and Iva Hrgović.
His father, who was born in Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina worked for Croatian Motorways, while his mom, a native of the Croatian capital Zagreb is a graduate in kinesiology and was focused on raising Filip and his four other siblings.
Hrgović recalls being overweight as a child, even earning the nickname "fatty" along the way.
He would often end up in trouble and be reprimanded for it.
Filip's first sport was basketball at age 8, which he took up as a means to lose weight.
He even managed to win the national championship with his club Dubrava but was forced to retire due to back and knee injuries.
He then took up swimming, which would also last only a short period of time.
He started boxing at the age of 13 in the boxing club Leonardo under the tutelage of coach Leonardo Pijetraj in his home district of Sesvete in Zagreb.
His mother wasn't overly happy with Filip's decision to take up boxing as a profession, but his mind was already made up.
2010
Hrgović participated in the 2010 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships, held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
He beat Jozsef Zsigmund in the first round, Fargan Omarov in the quarterfinals and Joseph Parker in the semifinals to earn a place in the tournament finals, where he faced Tony Yoka.
It was the first of three future meetings in amateur competitions.
He beat Yoka by points to win the gold medal.
Hrgović earned a 10 000 kuna payout from the Croatian Boxing Federation for this victory.
2012
In April 2012, Hrgović took part in the European Olympic Qualification tournament, competing in the super heavyweight category.
Despite scoring stoppage victories over Nikita Maculevics and Kaspar Vaha in the preliminary rounds, he would lose by decision to Magomed Omarov in the quarterfinals.
2013
Hrgović took part in the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships as well.
He beat Guangming Gu by stoppage and Mirzohidjon Abdullaev by decision in the preliminary rounds, to earn a place in the quarterfinals.
He lost his quarterfinals bout to Roberto Cammarelle by decision.
Hrgović was the man credited for the cancellation of the David Haye vs Tyson Fury fight in 2013, after he cut Haye in a sparring session.
2014
He was also Kubrat Pulev's sparring partner for his fight against Wladimir Klitschko in 2014.
In May 2014, Hrgović fought in the Croatian National Boxing Championship.
He won the gold medal by beating Pero Konsuo in the quarterfinal, Josip Granic in the semifinal and Ivan Andrasic in the finals.
2015
As an amateur, he won the gold medal at the 2015 European Amateur Boxing Championships and a bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
As of December 2021, The Ring ranks him as the #9 heavyweight in the world.
In 2015, Hrgović was awarded the Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport and the award for the best sportsman of Zagreb.
Hrgović likewise won the 2015 iteration of the tournament as well.
Hrgović qualified for the 2015 European Amateur Boxing Championships.
Victories over Dean Gardiner, Mikheil Bakhtidze and Mihai Nistor earned Hrgović a place in the finals, where he was to fight Florian Schulz.
It was the first time in eleven year that a Croatian boxer qualified for the finals of the European Amateur Boxing Championships.
He won the tournament with a unanimous decision win against Schulz.
He was named March Boxer of the Month in 2015 by AIBA.
2016
In 2016, Hrgović was awarded the Order of Danica Hrvatska with face of Franjo Bučar.
The last amateur competition Hrgović competed in was the 2016 Summer Olympics.
After beating Ali Eren Demirezen by unanimous decision, Hrgović was scheduled to fight Lenier Pero in the quarterfinals.
He beat Pero by TKO.
He advanced to the semifinals, where he fought a rubber match with Tony Yoka.
Yoka won the fight by a tight split decision, bringing Hrgović's overall score against him to 1–2 in amateur competitions.
