Filip Hrgovic to face Gary Cornish on September 8

Croatian heavyweight prospect and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic will fight at home for the first time as a professional on September 8, when he returns to his hometown of Zagrieb to battle veteran Gary Cornish.

Hrgovic (5-0, 4 KO) has looked good as a pro so far, after very narrowly losing to France’s Tony Yoka in the Olympic semifinals in Rio de Janeiro. He’s fought three times in 2018, beating Tom Little, Sean Turner, and Filiberto Tovar, after a pair of pro fights in 2017, turning pro last September.

So far, he’s fought three pro bouts in Germany and two in Latvia.

Cornish (25-2, 13 KO) is probably best-known for his 2015 TKO-1 loss to Anthony Joshua. He challenged Sam Sexton for the British heavyweight title in 2017, losing via tight decision. The 31-year-old Scotsman is a very solid opponent for Hrgovic at this stage of Hrgovic’s career, though he’ll be expected to lose, as he’s never really fought anyone of substance besides Joshua and Sexton.

The WBC international heavyweight title will be on the line in the bout.