ZAGREB, 30 May 2022 - Croatian boxer Luka Plantić, a member of the Salona Boxing Club, ended up winning the bronze medal at the European Boxing Championships in Yerevan, Armenia after losing in the semi-final match. 

The 25-year-old Plantić lost the semi-final match to Russian athlete Artem Ageev who competed for Serbia. Ageev is one of seven Russians wearing Serbia's colours at the championships in Yerevan. He won the first medal for Serbia's boxing team back in 1991.

The bronze medal is Plantić's best career success after winning the junior European championships and second place in the junior world championships.

A total of 219 boxers from 39 countries competed in Yerevan and medals were won by boxers from 20 countries.

Croatia had five competitors at the championships - Luka Plantić, Petar Cetinić, Matteo Komadina, Marko Zeljko and Damir Plantić.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

May 28, 2022 - Croatian boxer Luka Plantić advanced to the semifinals of the European Championships in Yerevan in the light heavyweight category up to 80 kg, thus securing at least a bronze medal!

The 25-year-old Olympian defeated Armenian Hambardzum Hakobyan 5-0 in the quarterfinals unanimously by the judges after a relentless, fierce fight in all three rounds; likely the most ferocious battle ever seen at the European Championships. In an unprecedented clash that went into three rounds and several complex exchanges of blows from both sides, Luka Plantić shook the strong, aggressive Armenian in the third round and secured a European medal and semifinal spot, reports Gol.hr.

Plantić will box in the semifinals on Sunday, May 29, in the evening program against Serbian Russian Artyom Ageyev.

Luka defeated great fighters from Georgia and Armenia in Yerevan. Until the semifinals, the Russian Ageyev, who fights under the Serbian flag, eliminated Pole Goinski, then the first seed Spaniard Yalidov, and in the quarterfinals, Bulgarian Nikolov. The Russian is an excellent technician; he moves great and hits as a counterpuncher. He is one of many Russian boxers on the Serbian national team led by Russian coaches at the European Championships in Yerevan.

Last year, Luka Plantić competed at the Olympics and was one step closer to the quarterfinals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, as well as at the World Championships in Belgrade - he lost both fights by close, dubious decisions of the referees.

The Sesvete native and member of BK Salona from Solin has so far been the world runner-up in the junior seniors (2014), and in the same year, he won a bronze medal at the Youth Olympic Games in China.

Filip Hrgović won the last medal for Croatia at the European Senior Boxing Championships in 2015.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated sports section. 

January 11, 2022 - Last year's most successful Croatian boxer, Luka Plantić, returns to the professional boxing ring this year! 

The Croatian boxer advanced to the round of 16 of the light heavyweight category at the Tokyo Olympic Games and the World Championships in Belgrade last year and was the junior champion of Europe and the junior vice-champion of the world in 2014. He also won the bronze medal at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in China.

Three years ago, he fought in the professional ring and recorded three wins in three appearances in Germany. He has booked a professional match in Miami on February 11, 2022, and is traveling to America this week. Upon his arrival in Florida, he will find out the name of his first opponent, reports Gol.hr.

Professional fights in Miami are organized by the celebrated Cuban coach Pedro Luis Diaz Benitez, one of the most respected boxing coaches in the world, who also holds the Doctor of Sports Sciences title. At the beginning of his professional career, Pedro Diaz also coached Croatian bronze medalist (Rio 2016) Filip Hrgović. 

The Torcida Split Boxing Club announced that Branimir Malenica would also fight in Miami at the Pedro Diaz event on February 11 this year, reports Dalmacija Danas.

Boxer Branimir Malenica spoke on the occasion:

"We are delighted to fight at this boxing event. In December 2021, Luka and I were at a training camp in Switzerland with Pedro Diaz. Special thanks to Ivan Dijaković, who believed in us and attended that training camp.

Pedro Diaz was satisfied with our training and expressed his desire to fight in Miami. He was the Cuba national team coach from 1992 to 2004, which won 20 gold, six silver, and three bronze medals in that period!

Luka Plantić has a very successful career in amateur boxing, and he competed at the Olympic Games in Tokyo," said Malenica.

Branimir Malenica has 73 senior matches in Germany behind him, while he achieved the first victory in the history of the Torcida Boxing Club. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.  

December 19, 2021 - Croatian boxer Alen Babić defeated French boxer David Spielmont on Saturday, reaching his 10th career victory in the toughest fight of his professional career. 

Croatian boxer Alen Babić reached his 10th career victory! He defeated French boxer David Spielmont, whom he learned would be his opponent just four days before the fight, reports Index.hr.

Spilmont has 11 wins, one draw, and eight defeats so far in his career. Interestingly, according to Boxrec, he had his last fight ten days ago, when he drew against compatriot Cyril Makiadi, but was less successful against Babić. 

This was Babić's fourth fight this year and it was evident in the ring. It was the hardest fight in his professional career, and Spilmont became the first fighter to endure until the 6th round.

BABIC WINS THE WAR OF ATTRITION ?

10 KO'S IN 10 FIGHTS FOR THE SAVAGE ? pic.twitter.com/FSAlnFzhLm

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 18, 2021

Not only did he endure, but he could have knocked out Babić in the 2nd round. The bell, however, saved the Croatian boxer. After that, Babić again mastered the ring in a similar way as in the first round and managed to celebrate even though he danced on the edge of a knockout the entire time. 

Heavyweight boxers Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora fought in the main fight of the evening in Manchester. After this victory, it is clear that Babić could soon get the right to attack the WBC belt in a new category.

Babić weighed just over 98 kilograms, while his opponent weighed 16 kilograms more. This is not surprising when you know that Babić is targeting a new, bridgerweight category, which the WBC has introduced for lighter heavyweights.

The Croatian boxer came to the weigh-in with a hat that said "KO inside 3". It was a clear message to the opponent that he would be knocked out within three rounds. 

Bravo to the Croatian boxer!

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

November 10, 2020 - Croatian boxer Filip Hrgovic announces Zagreb fight in December if all goes to plan. 

The best Croatian heavyweight boxer Filip Hrgovic (28), who reached his 12th professional victory with a triumph against 39-year-old American Rydell Booker, announced on his return to Zagreb that he has the opportunity to fight again this year, but that a real breakthrough in the IBF challenger rankings is expected next year when he should fight someone from the top of the world in February or March.

"It is best to be at home; I am happy to be back," said Hrgovic in a good mood and thanked everyone for welcoming him at Zagreb Airport.

"The referee made a good decision to end the fight. Booker had no control and was behind in points. He might have endured another round, but that wouldn’t make sense; he’d get even more beatings. I think I played that fight very well, and I am the first to manage to ‘finish’ him. Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev, who has twice fought for the world title, won it by a referee's decision after ten rounds," Hrgovic said.

The next fight should be on December 19 in Zagreb, but that has not been confirmed yet. The location is unknown at this time.

"It will probably be without an audience; we just need a place for the ring and cameras."

After the victory against Booker, he named the boxers he wants to fight next.

"The ones I called out, I should fight against them in February or March. But an agreement needs to be made with them. It doesn't matter who it would be, but it is important that it is an opponent from the top of the world and that it resonates worldwide. If that fight goes well, I should be among the top five on the IBF challenger rankings. Also, then next year, I could have three or four fights," said Hrgovic and added:

"Our goal is to fight for the IBF title. I may fight for the title as early as next year or 2022. But it may never be. We will have to wait to see how things develop."

Source: HRT

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

Croatian ‘Cro Cop’ posted a touching Facebook message to his fans: “They advised us to put her to sleep, but my dog is alive and well!”

‘Cro Cop’ Mirko Filipović's posts are often very popular, but a recent post particularly thrilled his fans because it is very touching, and how could it not be when one it is dedicated to one of his true loves: his dog Kora.

‘Cro Cop’ is known for treating his dogs like family members, and is especially emotionally attached to Kora because, at one point, he was advised to put her to sleep. Veterinarians did not give her any chance of recovery, but the "written off" dog eventually recovered and is now completely healthy, according to Zadarski on January 12, 2020.

Here is the Croatian boxer's complete post:

"Kora! My pet just turned 7 months old and was diagnosed with hip dysplasia 2 and a half months ago. Veterinarians said it was practically over for her. It was urgent to have artificial hips installed, because her situation was dire. Even then the euthanasia option was being suggested given the cost of surgery and the complexity of the rehabilitation Kori would have to undergo, which is demanding and complicated. And there is no guarantee that the surgery would succeed completely given the uncertain shelf life of artificial hips. Of course, 24-hour monitoring was necessary, because she must not run, jump or make any uncontrolled movement during recovery.

A friend referred me to a vet in Slovenia, Dr. Milan Matkea, a world-class expert and specialist in these cases. After reviewing the x-ray of Kora's hips, he said that he would operate and that he would not implant artificial hips. Instead he would only 'rotate her tendons and ligaments' if I have explained the procedure correctly. Basically, Kora has been operated on and has gone from a dog who was written off to one that is completely healthy today.

Today we went for our first walk. She walks completely normally and now we must gradually get her used to longer walks to strengthen the muscles that have atrophied. Six weeks after surgery, Kora has fully recovered. Rehab was difficult, although I was not very involved in that. Thank you to my wife Klaudija, who slept on the living room floor with Kora for 6 weeks, because Kora was not allowed to stay alone for a second until she had completely healed. I should also mention taking Kora outside to go to the bathroom, which was done with one hand holding a leash and the other with a towel tucked under her belly to reduce the load on her hind legs when walking.

Basically, Kora is healthy, recovering and alive today! For all of this I must thank Dr. Matkea. Thank you Dr. Matkea for everything you have done so that Kora alive and well and with us today."

Follow our Lifestyle page for updates on Croatian celebrities, their pets and veterinary medical advances.

Croatian boxer Ivana Habazin was supposed to fight American Claressa Shields for the title in Flint, Michigan, but a horrible event at the weigh-in made her cancel the fight.

It was supposed to be a celebration of boxing, and a return of the two-time Olympic champion, Claressa Shields to her hometown as a pro boxer.

The Croatian and the American boxer were scheduled to fight for the vacant World Boxing Organization Junior Middleweight title, and everything was going as planned, until the weigh-in ceremony. At the ceremony, Habazin's trainer James Ali Bashir got in an altercation with Shields' sister, and ten minutes after that a man came to Bashir from behind, punched him in the back of the head and ran.

The punch knocked Bashir to the ground, unconscious, and he was taken to a hospital. Ivana Habazin posted on social media that he's since been transferred to another hospital, where he's had surgery (not specified which kind of surgery), and that he's starting to recover, but that she refuses to box after such a shock (video below in English).

Claressa Shields took to Instagram before it was clear that the fight would, in fact, be cancelled, saying that people call her opponent "Ivana No Excuses" and that she should go on with the fight, and that there's certainly someone else who can take Bashir's place in Ivana's corner. The disrespectful comment seems to have been taken down from her social media, but nothing disappears once it's posted:

? Claressa Shields gives her side of the story after opponent Ivana Habazin's coach was sucker-punched at their weigh-in today. Shields still wants the fight to go ahead: "Her name is Ivana 'No Excuses', so I'm hoping we don't have none."

[?️ @ClaressaShields] pic.twitter.com/UdHA1LGpgb

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 4, 2019

Some of the media report that the attacker was Shields' brother. The TMZ.com website said Michigan police have a suspect in custody but they did not provide any details. Claressa Shields denied those claims, saying it was not her brother who attacked the trainer from behind.

James Ali Bashir is a well-known figure in the boxing world, having trained under trainer Emanuel Steward for close to two decades. The New Jersey native has worked with boxers like former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, Monte Barrett, Shannon Briggs and Jameel McCline, and has been Habazin's trainer as she prepared for the title bout against an undefeated boxing super-star.

The Croatian boxer lost to Tony Yoka by split decision

Every day, TCN brings you the itinerary of Croatian athletes' participation at the Olympics, today, there is only one, but literally, one of the strongest there is

The Croatian boxer knocked out Cuba’s Leiner Eunice Pero in the dying seconds of the second round