Filip Hrgović to fight Michael Hunter, winner to get title fight
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgović (28) will fight American Michael Hunter (32) in what will be an IBF world heavyweight final eliminator, his management has confirmed.
Hrgović, who beat Rydell Booker in his last fight last November in Florida, will fight Hunter to determine who will be the mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight title.
After the Croatian knocked out Booker for his 12th win from 12 fights in his pro career, he was called out by Hunter. IBF announced this month that the number 5 ranked Hrgović and the number 4 ranked Hunter would fight to determine who would be the mandatory challenger.
IBF gave both fighters until Friday to accept the bout which has now happened.
Hunter has suffered only one defeat in his career, against the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usik in the fight for the WBO lightweight title in 2017. He has yet to be knocked out.
The date and venue of the fight have not been revealed yet.
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“Hrgović is ready, I believe he is one of the top heavyweights in the world and you are gonna see him in big tests and hopefully get himself to fight or in a position to fight for a world title by the end of this year,” boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said last month.
Hrgović has been in Zagreb training with his coach Pedro Diaz.
