Filip Hrgovic believes he found a willing dance partner for his next targeted ring date.
The unbeaten contender replied to the callout by former WBO titlist Joseph Parker, who is also equal to land another high-profile assignment. Both boxers won separate bouts on the December 23 ‘Day of Reckoning’ show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They are now on record with interest in a head-on collision on the March 9 Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou show in the same city.
“I heard that Joseph Parker wants to fight me in March on Joshua-Ngannou undercard,” Hrgovic said in a self-circulated video. “I am very happy to hear that.”
Croatia’s Hrgovic (17-0, 14KOs) preserved his place in line as the IBF mandatory challenger with a first-round knockout of Mark De Mori in their gross mismatch on the December 23 show. The evening’s co-feature saw New Zealand’s Parker (34-3, 23KOs) ruin everyone’s plans after a stunningly dominant, unanimous decision win over former WBC titlist Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42KOs).
Wins by Wilder and Joshua that evening would have set up a titanic and long-overdue showdown for the March 9 main event. England’s Joshua (27-3, 24KOs) held up his end with a one-sided showing of Otto Wallin, whom he stopped after five rounds in the evening’s main event.
Joshua is currently ranked number-three—but likely to move up in the next ratings update—by the IBF, whose title is held by Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14KOs) in addition to the WBA and WBO belts. Usyk will defend his unified crown versus lineal/WBC champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24KOs) on February 17 in Riyadh, in the first undisputed heavyweight championship clash in 25 years.
Hrgovic was previously approved to fight for the sanctioning body’s interim title, and is guaranteed to next challenge for the IBF title. The strong belief is that the Fury-Usyk winner will vacate the belt, given the existent rematch clause in their own forthcoming championship meeting.
With Joshua committed to a fight versus Ngannou—a former UFC heavyweight champion who came up just short versus Fury in his boxing pro debut last October 28—Parker would represent the next highest-ranked, available IBF contender. That could allow the Hrgovic-Parker winner—provided they fight—with a little more leverage for future fights, whether versus Joshua or any other relevant heavyweight.
“I accept your offer, Joe,” insisted Hrgovic. “Let’s do it, let’s go baby. Let’s get down. Let’s get down to business. See you soon, baby.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. X (formerly Twitter): @JakeNDaBox