AJ set to DUCK wilder and fight Hrgovic for IBF instead

[Toffee]

These are alphabet bodies....anything can happen for the right money.

Hence two ten-ish ranked fighters appearing in an eliminator when there's already an 'International Champion' (the meaning of "international" apparently being different from 'World').

They've now painted themselves into a corner for a quick dollar.

But they can get themselves out again by playing the old "the organisation can approve fights on a case by case basis" card.

[WBC WBA IBF]

These are alphabet bodies....anything can happen for the right money.

The IBF doesn't allow step aside agreements.

The IBF has strictly followed their rules since the federal government monitoring.

[JakeTheBoxer]

The IBF doesn't allow step aside agreements.

The IBF has strictly followed their rules since the federal government monitoring.

Joshua can still fight Wallin -Hrgovic winner.

[kafkod]

The usual bull**** from Hearn.

Wallin won an eliminator for the #2 ranking and Joshua isn't eligible to fight Hrgovic for the soon to be vacant IBF world championship.

For "soon to be vacant" read: Might become vacant sometime next year, if Usyk vs Fury happens and the loser has an immediate rematch clause.

Meanwhile, Hrgovic can fight whoever he wants. He seems to have a lot of self belief, so him fighting AJ for the payday while waiting to see what happens with his mando is not out of the question. Same applies to Wallin.

[BodyBagz]

AJ has life choices to make -
Go out swinging and hope to catch The Bronze Bumbler in between shots ?
What's the worst that can happen...he gets KTFO ?
Truly have confidence that you can out box him and fight smart ?
What's the worst that can happen...he loses to the Bumbler via UD ?
Or avoid him and earn off your past rep ?
This is the worst choice, legacy wise IMHO

[dan-b]

For "soon to be vacant" read: Might become vacant sometime next year, if Usyk vs Fury happens and the loser has an immediate rematch clause.

Meanwhile, Hrgovic can fight whoever he wants. He seems to have a lot of self belief, so him fighting AJ for the payday while waiting to see what happens with his mando is not out of the question. Same applies to Wallin.

I don't see Fury fighting Hrgovic even without an immediate rematch clause. Fights against Zhang and AJ in 2024 are more attractive/lucrative. In an ideal world the IBF title would remain unified but with self-interest from the likes of Hearn, that seems unlikely.

[PRINCEKOOL]

In terms of boxing, and good match making 'Fighting Hrgovic for a vacant title is better than fighting Deontay Wilder for what? Wilder is great event, but he has already been ****** out and battered before by Fury in a great trilogy. And since that fight, Wilder really has not achieved anything much at World level'.

For the most part of Joshua's career, his match making could of been done better 'Fury in comparison out of the top-4 fighters, has been promoted the best'.

Fury tactically avoids fights, and only takes on big fights when he is basically backed into a corner 'Fury has been matched in a way which keeps the likely-hood of him winning maximized. Joshua has not, that is why Joshua has more depth in his resume 'And it is also the reason why he has already been beaten three times, if Hearn wanted to keep Joshua undefeated he could of increased the likely-hood of that more effectively'.

Tyson Fury is a innately clumsy fighter, he has been decked more times than any of the top-4 Heavyweights 'Even though he has not consistently fought at a high level'. Just imagine if Fury had fought every single fighter on Joshua's resume, when Joshua fought them 'Fury most likely would of been decked between 10-15 times by now'.

Anthony Joshua fought Wladimir Kiltschko in his 19th professional fight.

Fighting Wladimir Kiltschko 17 months after his loss to Tyson Fury 'After Kiltschko having to endure 3 back to back training camps, due to Fury continually pulling out of their rematch unfortunately'.

That fight was a big risk, and Hearn could of easily not made that fight.

Note: So overall, Hrgovic vs Joshua is not quite a mega event. But in terms of pure boxing, and for Joshua's career it is a big fight 'And a big challenge'. If that fight is a title fight, then it would be great match making 'The fight is also not a straight forward fight for Joshua, Hrgovic has slightly been fighting at a higher level. Beating two undefeated fighters in Zhang and Mckean i.e The Zhang fight was a close fight, but Hrgovic still got the decision' etc.

[kafkod]

I don't see Fury fighting Hrgovic even without an immediate rematch clause. Fights against Zhang and AJ in 2024 are more attractive/lucrative. In an ideal world the IBF title would remain unified but with self-interest from the likes of Hearn, that seems unlikely.

Eddie Hearn has no control over IBF mandatories. If Usyk/Fury doesn't happen, Usyk will have to fight Hrgovic next. If it does happen, the winner will have to fight Hrgovic next or be stripped of the IBF title. Hearn's interests won't change anything.

[War Room]

Eddie Hearn has come out and said they will now not look to make the wilder fight and instead look to fight Hrgovic for the IBF title. It’s funny cause Eddie Hearn said a couple months ago they didn’t want to fight Tyson Fury for the belts cause they have the ‘Deontay Wilder fight locked in’ which we now know was a blatant lie, and they want to fight wilder instead of winning the belts.

Personally, it was obvious Hearn never wanted to make AJ vs Wilder, but I can see how the way he talks how persuasive he is he has many people fooled. He’s been stalling this wilder fight for a long time and he finally has a way out now. He wants to put AJ in the easiest possible fights, it’s his main cash cow, he can’t risk it losing to wilder or fury and risk losing AJs value.

Eddie has remarked before that AJ would be joining the great Muhammad Ali in becoming 3 time champ if he beats Hrgovic. This shows everything wrong with boxing today. Ali became champ against Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Leon Spinks. AJ became champ against Charles Martin, Ruiz, Hrgovic, three stinkers of heavyweights.


But AJ vs Wilder is NOT happening.

Never going to happen. AJ on his best day cannot beat Hrgović. AJ was shook to bits against the gay viking, Hrgović will probably stop AJ to be fair.

[Zelda]

The IBF doesn't allow step aside agreements.

The IBF has strictly followed their rules since the federal government monitoring.

Currently, Hrgovic is #1, #2 is vacant, then Joshua, then Wilder, Sanchez, Parker, Anderson, etc. If they want to find a champion, they first need to fill their #2 spot. You say they follow rules and you also say Wallin #9 and Gassiev #12 fought for the #2 position? Who did Joshua fight in the IBF ranking to get the #3 position? and who did Wilder fight to get#4? Why is Dillian still in the ranking? who has Kabayel beaten to be a top 10? why are Ruiz and Ortiz ranked #14 and 15, respectively when Ruiz beat Ortiz?

Some rules there eh?