The IBF have ordered a purse bid for an interim world title fight between heavyweight contenders Filip Hrgovic and Andy Ruiz Jr.
The pair’s teams had been given a thirty day period to agree a deal, however this has now been passed and a purse bid will take place on 28th of February.
IBF President Daryl People revealed in an official letter that it was actually team Hrgovic who requested that the fight go to purse bids.
“On January 11, 2023, the IBF ordered Filip Hrgovic and Andy Ruiz to begin negotiations for the IBF Heavyweight Interim Championship Title.”
“An agreement could not be reached and on February 13, 2013, Mr. Nisse Sauerland, representing Filip Hrgovic, requested an immediate purse bid.”
Given that Ruiz is promoted by PBC and Hrgovic works with Matchroom as well as Wasserman boxing, it is perhaps unsurprising a deal was not able to be agreed.
Hrgovic is already mandatory challenger for the IBF world title, currently held by Oleksandr Usyk, after a razor thin decision win over Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia last August.
The Croatian has been keen to get back in the ring, after the IBF announced it would allow an undisputed clash between Usyk and Tyson Fury to take precedence over a mandatory shot for Hrgovic.
Ruiz has also been ordered to fight a final eliminator by the WBC against countryman Deontay Wilder, although these talks appear to have gone quiet in recent weeks and it remains unclear whether or not the bout will materialise.
‘The Destroyer’ was last out in September, when he outpointed Cuban veteran Luis Ortiz in Los Angeles – only his second fight since his unsuccessful 2019 rematch to Anthony Joshua.