Filip Hrgovic, Croatian heavyweight boxer who trained with Mandzukic was interviewed by Gazzetta dello Sport. This is what he had to say to the newspaper:
"It was Mario who asked to be able to come to the ring to see me. Of course I accepted, to us Croatians, he is a national monument. He is a simple man and he is nice with people that he is close to, in Italy perhaps you do not know this side of him. I assure you that he is an excellent boxer. He would have been one if he were not a footballer. He would have been great in the ring, he already is and it does not surprise me. He is a great professional. He never skips a gym day. A warrior must also be an athlete."
