Promoters Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) and Calle Sauerland (Wassermann Boxing) claim that the IBF requires the unified heavyweight champion Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) to immediately conduct a mandatory defense.
We are talking about a duel with the winner of the Olympic Games-2016 Croatian challenger Filip Hrgovic (15-0, 12 KOs).
“Confirmed! —
write Sauerlands. Hrgovic is Usyk’s next opponent for the world heavyweight title. The fight has already been officially scheduled in the IBF. Eddie Hearn, let’s put on a show!”
Approximately the same was written by Hearn himself. And he just confirmed it live on
streaming DAZN. Worst of all, “the IBF didn’t just schedule this fight. We have already contacted the organization to request an immediate promotional bid.”
This news may very well put an end to negotiations on the fight for the title of the absolute heavyweight between the owner of the WBA Super, IBF and WBO belts Usyk and the WBC champion Briton Tyson Fury – tentatively scheduled for early 2023.
It is logical to assume that the Ukrainian will ask for a deferral of mandatory protection. Previously, his promoter Krasyuk spoke about all the mandatory applicants and the order of Usyk’s defenses. And he also talked about the Usyk-Fury fight.