‌IBF Has A Surprise Heavyweight Update.

There will be a two-way rematch clause in the next Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk bout, which will establish an undisputed heavyweight champion and very certainly result in two meetings between the two fighters. 

The IBF declared that they would not permit any exceptions to their order for the IBF champion to face mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic(16-0, 13 KOs) and that the champion will lose their title if they do not comply, so unfortunately for supporters, recognition as the undisputed champion would be fleeting.

Eddie Hearn complied with the IBF’s directive by stating that Anthony Joshua(26-3, 23 KOs) would be Hrgovic’s opponent should the IBF championship be on the line. 

For those who were waiting to watch Antony Joshua take fight Deontay Wilder, this was heartbreaking news. 

Interesting new heavyweight rankings from the IBF may put a stop to Hearn’s intention to have Antony Joshua challenge for the title.

“Don’t hate the player, hate the game,” said Tyson Fury on Instagram. 

“I don’t have a mandatory, when I do have a mandatory it will be dealt with just like every other mandatory I’ve ever had,” said Tyson Fury on Instagram.

Otto Wallin (26-1, 14 KOs) is a 32-year old professional boxer from Sweden, who squared off against Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) in 2019 and gave Fury one of his toughest fights to date, has moved up to number two in the IBF rankings, right behind number one Filip Hrgovic ,31, from Croatia, and in front of Anthony Joshua from England  ranked number three and Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42KOs) ranked number fourth.

If the loser from Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk is interested in activating their rematch clause, the IBF will issue Filip Hrgovic vs. Otto Wallin for the IBF championship. 

Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder negotiations can presumably resume now that Hearn’s proposal for Joshua to compete for the IBF title has been shelved, though Malik Scott disagrees.