Filip Hrgovic has questioned Joe Joyce’s confidence ahead of their high stakes heavyweight meeting in Manchester next week.
Hrgovic faces former amateur rival Joyce in a must-win showdown at the Co-op Live Arena on April 5, live on DAZN.
The ‘Juggernaut’ overcame the Croatian by split decision in an amateur tournament in 2013, but ‘El Animal’, who has stepped in at late notice for the injured Dillian Whyte, is certain of gaining revenge.
“This fight will be different,” Hrgovic told BoxNation.
“I’m much more experienced.
“I’m much stronger and I think this time when I land he will go down or he will not have [the] confidence to come forward like he did in the amateurs.
“I’m confident I’m going to beat him.”
Joyce, 39, has won just once in his last four outings, losing by stoppage twice to Zhilei Zhang and on points to Derek Chisora last July, having been dropped in the ninth round.
Hrgovic is looking to bounce back following a first professional defeat to Daniel Dubois last June in Riyadh, however the 32-year-old believes he has all the tools to inflict another damaging defeat on the Brit, who he believes has lost his once renowned punch resistance.
“Yeah [I think his punch resistance has gone],” he added.
“He’s almost 40.
“He’s much older and he got knocked out a few times so I think that’s the case for sure.
“But also if I don’t knock him out, I’m in good shape, I can go 10 rounds.
“I’m faster than him and smarter so I can beat him.
“If I don’t knock him out I will beat him on points.
“But it’s going to be a good fight.
“He’s tough, he’s coming forward, he throws a lot of punches.
“He has great heart and great stamina.
“So it will be a good fight, but I believe that I have better qualities.”
