Filip Hrgovic’s promoter, Kalle Sauerland, has spoken to Boxing Social about where his man finds himself in terms of his next fight and a shot at the heavyweight title.
The IBF recently ordering their mandatory challenger – Hrgovic – to face champion – Oleksandr Usyk – made the headlines because it would stand in the way of an undisputed bout between Usyk and Tyson Fury.
After some uncertainty, the sanctioning body released a statement confirming that this would not be the case. It said that the WBA were first in an agreed rotation of mandatories, meaning Hrgovic won’t get a shot until Daniel Dubois has had one.
It’s believed then that Fury and Usyk will be free to proceed with their legacy-defining contest given that Dubois shares a promoter with Fury in Frank Warren.
When asked by Boxing Social about where it left Hrgovic, Sauerland said it would become clear very soon.
“That IBF situation I’m not going to comment on, because there’s something ongoing. That will be very clear in the next couple of days. No more comment on Filip Hrgovic.”
When pressed on if he believed the mandatory could be called and stop the undisputed fight for now, Sauerland had this to say:
“I don’t think it’s about stopping the undisputed fight, I think it’s just about the clarity of position of Filip Hrgovic. [The mandatory challenger position can’t be rescinded] because he’s boxed a final eliminator and that’s what the situation is.”
Finally, when asked if his fighter was in the mix to face Anthony Joshua on April 1, the promoter kept silent – neither confirming nor denying. A note of particular interest to those who are keenly awaiting ‘AJ’s announcement, as Hrgovic would undeniably be a tougher test than many of the names currently floating around.
If the fight does materialise, a win, in theory, could put Joshua in prime position for a chance at becoming three-time heavyweight champion.
Whatever unfolds, it’s never been clearer that the heavyweight division is in an exciting place with not only an undisputed fight around the corner, but plenty of world-level operators in waiting for the aftermath.