IBF number one heavyweight contender Filip ‘El Animal’ Hrgovic 15-0 (12) will meet fellow unbeaten Demsey ‘The Tower of Terror’ McKean 22-0 (14) over 12 rounds on a huge night of boxing at the O2 Arena in London, England on August 12.
The bout will take place on the undercard of the clash between former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua 25-3 (22) and Dillian Whyte 29-3 (19) and will be broadcast globally on DAZN.
The winner of the fight will be in a prime position to challenge WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champon Oleksandr Usyk 20-0 (13), who defends his belts against Daniel Dubois 19-1 (18) in Wroclaw, Poland on August 26.
Croatian Hrgovic, 31, is coming off a unanimous decision win over China’s Zhilei Zhang 25-1-1 (20) last August, a bout that many fans and pundits felt could have easily gone the other way.
That victory for Hrgovic looks much better now after Zhang stopped highly-regarded British contender Joe Joyce 15-1 (14) in six frames in April.
Hrgovic said: “The heavyweight champions cannot avoid me any longer and once I have defeated Demsey McKean on August 12, they will have no other option but to face me.
“I have waited patiently and bided my time but the game is up, ‘El Animal’ is coming for you and is ready to take the belts back to Croatia.
“McKean will be a tough and strong opponent, but he has never faced anyone as powerful and skilful as me.
“August 12, at The O2 in London, is the night the heavyweight division starts to change.”
In McKean, Hrgovic will have a very different problem to solve. The 32-year-old Australian southpaw likes to box at range and has a good uppercut on the inside.
“This is what it’s all about, the big fights,” said McKean. “I’ve been grinding a big portion of my life for a fight like this. I’m one win away from fighting Usyk for four world titles. This is my world title fight.”
Hrgovic will enter the fight as a comfortable favourite, but in heavyweight boxing one punch can change everything.
“August 12 is going to be a massive heavyweight night and Filip Hrgovic will have to overcome a very tough and top ranked Australian to fulfil his dream of fighting for the world championship later this year,” said Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman.
“One thing is clear, only Demsey McKean stands between Hrgovic and fighting for the world title because the winner of Usyk-Dubois is mandated to fight the winner.”
Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn: said “We have a monstrous night of heavyweight boxing in store for fight fans arounds the world on Saturday August 12 live from the sold-out O2 in London.
“Old foes Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte meet again in a must-win clash at the top of the bill and I’m excited to confirm the first two undercard additions of what will be a stacked card.
“The IBF’s number one ranked Heavyweight Filip Hrgovic returns a year on from his Final Eliminator win over Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia.
“‘El Animal’ fights in the UK for the first time as a professional against Australia’s unbeaten Demsey McKean who secures the biggest fight of his career.”
