Luka Plantic enjoyed a triumphant homecoming.
The Croatian super middleweight scored a 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Bruno Acosta on Friday, in Zagreb.
Plantic dominated his Argentine opponent for large swathes of their contest and was awarded the wide decision by the scores of 98-92, 98-93 and 97-93.
"It was very special to fight in Zagreb," Plantic (12-0, 9 KOs) told
The Ring through promoter Ahmet Oner. "I also had pressure in organizing everything, I was worrying if people would buy tickets to come to the arena because Croatia is a soccer country, not a typical boxing country. It is a different stress."
The 28-year-old felt he could have done more in securing the victory.
"I was not happy with my performance," he said. "I won, there was no doubt, but I wanted to knock him out."
However, his promoter Ahmet Oner believes it was a good overall learning experience for his fighter.
"It was very easy, I expected Luka to knock him out because the guy never stood in front of him, he tried to survive, sometimes it like this," said Oner. "I expect Luka to cut the corners off and to catch him. He has to improve. In the end, he won, that is very important.
"It's only his 12th fight. It was a long break from [his last fight in] November. I believe Luka, if he has a better, stronger opponent, who stays in front of him, will perform better. He wants a fight; he wants to bang. He wants fights like Conor Benn-Chris Eubank Jr, he doesn't like fighters who are running away. Luka is tough, Luka is serious."
Oner has three specific targets for Plantic that he hopes to be able to make later this year.
"I want [Christian] Mbilli, he beat
Mbilli as an amateur," said Oner. "Luka Plantic has to face Mbilli, Luka Plantic has to face guys like [Edgar]
Berlanga, Luka Plantic has to face guys like [Diego]
Pacheco.
"We are not talking about Canelo; everyone wants to fight Canelo."
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on X @AnsonWainwr1ght.