IBF Tags Hrgovic-Dubois With Interim Title Fight Consolation
May 31, 2024 • 10:39 AM ET
The IBF has stopped short of taking away Olekandr Usyk’s heavyweight title and instead labeled Saturday’s Filip Hrgovic-Daniel Dubois bout in Saudi Arabia a fight for its interim heavyweight title.
As undisputed champion Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) waits out a medical suspension following his dramatic split-decision victory over Tyson Fury May 18 while requesting an exception to keep his IBF belt, the sanctioning body has given Croatia’s mandatory contender Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) a consolation prize should he defeat England’s Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs) on the DAZN-streamed “5 versus 5” card in Saudi Arabia.
Hrgovic and his handlers have pressed the IBF to make Saturday’s bout a full title fight since IBF bylaws stipulate a champion cannot arrange a rematch when a mandatory bout is due.
Yet, Usyk has requested the exception and could still potentially strike a financial arrangement to fight him next should he repeat victory over Fury in a bout that is scheduled to take place Dec. 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
An IBF official told BoxingScene Friday, “There hasn’t been a decision on if and when (Saturday’s winner) will be elevated,” to full champion.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
