Via Gav Duthie: Kalle Sauerland spent a lot of time in 2021 trying to find someone to face Filip Hrgovic 14-0 (12) to final IBF elimination, and 2022 has started in the right way. Luis Ortiz turned down the opportunity because of a hand injury, and Joseph Parker turned it down due to financial expectations and his injury.
Once again, IBF will be shortlisting their top 15 fighters to find someone ready to face the dangerous Croat. Kalle Sauerland has had enough; If no one is willing to confront him in the near future, he is asking the IBF to make him mandatory without a final type person which is understandable. The main question is why do boxers avoid Filip Hrgovic? And who, if anyone is his most likely opponent for the honor to fight for the title.
Year 2021
Last year, it was very likely that Hrgovic would face Michael Hunter for the title. The talented American guy looked like he was about to sign a contract but turned it down to be the heavyweight poster guy for the Triller TV service. Triller has taken on Hunter more favorably, and despite that, he’s struggled to get to a draw with Jerry Forrest recently. Due to Hunter rejecting it, he was dropped from the rankings, and the same can happen to some of the boxers who are doing so now.
IBF
If I were a boxer and could choose which organization is required, it would be the IBF all the time. If you’re a required IBF, you’ll get your shot. A situation like Dillian Whyte or Eleider Alvarez waiting for WBCs for years would never happen to IBF. This is why I can’t understand why so many people turn down the opportunity to last kind with them.
Charts
(Latest)
IBF Champion: Oleksandr Usyk
1. Not rated
2. Charles Martin
3. Filip Hrgovic
4. Joseph Parker
5. Anthony Joshua
6. Tony Yoka
7. Joe Joyce
8. Agit Kabayel
9. Murat Gassiev
10. Luis Ortiz
11. Andy Ruiz Jnr
12. Demsey Mckean
13. Zhileil Zang
14. Hughie Fury
15. Martin Bakole
The ratings haven’t been updated since Luis Ortiz stopped Charles Martin, but he turned down the chance, and so did Parker. Anthony Joshua will fight Usyk next. Hrgovic, Joe Joyce and Tony Yoka were all amateur competitors.
December 4, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Filip Hrgovic celebrates his win over Emir Ahmatovic during a match on December 4, 2021 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Required credit: Ed Mulholland / Matchroom.
Joyce won a decisive victory over Hrgovic in the world boxing series, and Yoka defeated Hrgovic in the 2016 Olympic semi-finals, both close fights. Joyce ranks high with the WBO, so he gets a hit without having to fight Hrgovic. Yoka was supposed to fight Martin Bakole, although that fight has been postponed for the time being due to rule restrictions. Currently, only Zhileil Zhang 23-0-1 (18) is interested in the fight. At 38, he knows time is not on his side, and this is a direct route to Usyk or amateur rival Joshua if he wins the rematch.
Agit Kabayel, Murat Gassiev, Andy Ruiz Jnr and Demsey Mckean should all have a chance at the game first, and aside from Andy Ruiz, I think the rest will be interested.
Avoid
Joseph Parker’s team manager David Higgins commented that Hrgovic not having a large enough fan base economically or with the money to invest is quite interesting. Boxing has always been about risk reward. Everyone recognized Hrgovic as a good fighter. I don’t think Parker and Ortiz are scared, but they don’t want to risk losing for small amounts of money. The amazing thing is that no one has been able to beat Hrgovic on their own, win titles and make money later when they are world champions. That is very short-term thinking. Should Sauerland-Wasserman pay the odds to land Hrgovic a big win and fame, or just see how it plays out?
I think Parker’s team has a point. Hrgovic doesn’t seem to have a core fan base. If you take his countryman Alen Babic as an example, he has had all his battles in Great Britain and is almost an honorary Englishman. He has a huge fanbase more than the UK, and although not as talented as Hrgovic, he has traction in the market. Hrgovic is everywhere fighting on the cards below. His most recent six fights have come in the following:
Mexico
Saudi Arabia
Denmark
United States, Florida
Shirt
United States, Las Vegas
He last fought in Croatia 8 games ago in a basketball hall. Croatia is not a big enough boxing center to support him. Sauerland has done a great job of keeping him busy and putting him on shows around the globe, but that hasn’t helped him gain a core fan base anywhere. Hrgovic needed a big win to make a name for himself.
Guess
Given the rankings, what it takes for everyone, and the opportunities available to fight for the IBF title, I think Agit Kabayel is the most overrated champion that would agree to join the fight. We’ll see what happens as the situation unfolds.
