The IBF have ordered their heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk, to face his mandatory challenger in Filip Hrgovic next, complicating a potential fight with Tyson Fury to crown an undisputed champion.
Usyk has held the IBF belt along with the WBA, IBF, and IBO since defeating Anthony Joshua in 2021. His sole defence of his heavyweight straps was against ‘AJ’ again, and it appears that the mandatories are now starting to roll in.
Hrgovic became mandatory with a less than convincing victory of China’s Zhang Zhilei on the same August 2022 card that Usyk beat Joshua for the second time. The 30-year-old Croatian has 15 fights, 15 wins and 12 knockouts.
Tagging both fighters as well as Hrgovic’s co-promotional team, Wasserman, Hearn announced the news via Twitter.
“Just received written order from IBF for Champion Oleksandr Usyk to face mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic NEXT… Let’s go!”
Just received written order from IBF for Champion @usykaa to face mandatory challenger @Filip_Hrgovic NEXT..let’s go! @SauerlandBros 🔥
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) November 12, 2022
Whilst on the surface it looks like the undisputed fight with Fury, which has been targeted for March next year, may have to be postponed, there is a case to be made to say otherwise.
Sanctioning bodies tend to not stand in the way of unification bouts if they can help it, and given that the Croatian fighter has only been next in line for around three months, it seems like Usyk and Fury have a strong foundation to request their fight come first.
As per the IBF’s rules, they must consider such a request. Given the money involved in an undisputed bout, as well as the history-making aspect, one has to sway towards the idea that their ruling might be allowed to be twisted in favour of Usyk squaring off with ‘The Gypsy King’ the next time he steps through the ropes.