IBF number one heavyweight contender Filip ‘El Animal’ Hrgovic 16-0 (13) will press for his overdue title shot against unified champion Oleksandr Usyk 21-0 (14).
Ukrainian southpaw Usyk, 36, successfully defended the WBA, WBO and IBF titles for a second time with a ninth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois 19-2 (18) in Poland on Saturday night.
Dubois was the WBA mandatory contender and Hrgovic is the next in line in the rotation of mandatories.
The 32-year-old Croatian returned to the ring for the first time in a year earlier this month when he knocked out fringe contender Demsey McKean 22-1 (14) in the 12th and final round in London.
Hrgovic came under criticism for his performance against the Australian southpaw for the slow pace of the fight, but his promoter Kalle Sauerland said it was exactly the sort of hit out he needed before facing Usyk.
“We saw last night and Usyk – and I promoted him on numerous occasions, I know him in and out – he showed, to me, signs of slowing,” Sauerland said to Boxing Social.
“I think that Hrgovic, you know, he’s had long layoffs, because of this whole situation, so I think the 12 rounds with McKean was gold, every single round of it because that’s what he needs.
“If you look back, Hrgovic has been around for a long, long time. Not just on the pro scene, but the WSB (World Series of Boxing) scene, so he’s been on the circuit for a long, long time. So he’s used to activity. The last couple of years have been a nightmare for him.
“I think the McKean fight was exactly what he needed to go into this fight. Anyone who’s around boxing knows about Hrgovic since years. It’s not like some big secret or something. We all know what he can do and now is his time.
“It’s a fantastic fight and it’s one that we’ve definitely got more than a chance. We’re going to be very confident.”
The only thing that will prevent the Usyk-Hrgovic fight from happening next is if a four-belt unification bout can be successfully negotiated between Usyk and WBC champion Tyson Fury 33-0-1 (24).
Previous negotiations between the pair earlier this year broke down after Fury refused to accept a 50-50 purse split for the rematch after agreeing to a 70-30 split in his favour for the proposed first bout.
Fury will now face boxing debutant and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is a 10-round non-title bout in Saudi Arabia on October 28.
Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas confirmed that Hrgovic will be next in line if Fury baulks again at facing the unified champion.
“Hrgovic is the mandatory but if we’re going to get the unification [against Fury] we’re going to go for the unification,” Klimas said.
“If the unification is not done, of course Hrgovic will be next.”
