01-07-2022, 04:24 PM
Joseph Parker declines IBF eliminator fight with Croatia's Filip Hrgovic
Stuff sports reporters
New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has declined an offer to meet Croatia's Filip Hrgovic in an IBF eliminator fight.
Recent reports had suggested that because Cuba's Luiz Ortiz had turned down a fight with Hrgovic there was a chance the 29-year-old Parker, as the next contender in the rankings, could fill the vacancy.
But it turns out that Parker, who had until Friday to decide whether to fight Hrgovic, wasn't interested. This was despite Britain's Sky Sports website claiming earlier this week that Parker, who beat Derek Chisora in Manchester last month, had emerged as the most likely opponent for the Croatian.
Anyone aspiring to have a crack at Olesksandr Usyk’s IBF heavyweight title must first face Hrgovic, a 2016 Rio Olympic Games bronze medallist.
Parker, the No 3-ranked contender, had been instructed by the IBF to enter talks with Hrgovic - but Hrgovic's promoters have said he has already pulled out.
Parker's camp has been reported as saying it turned down the fight because Parker was focusing on recovering from injuries. This includes issues with his elbows, which have dogged him during his career.
“Joseph's plan was to recuperate a bit and then go to the doctor, and maybe a specialist to get some assessment of the elbows before then planning his next steps,’' Parker's manager David Higgins told NZME.
Higgins said Parker also had been nursing a burst eardrum from his fight against Chisora.
Higgins said the Parker camp had told the IBF they had to “politely decline'’ the opportunity to fight Hrgovic. Higgins also suggested to NZME he had a “loose discussion’' which confirmed the money on offer was “crap'’.
But a representative from Hrgovic camp said no reason had been given for why the fight wouldn't go ahead.
"We weren't given a reason," Kalle Sauerland, who represents Hrgovic, told Sky Sports. "The rankings become a mockery. We have gone through the rankings before.
"This isn't about rejecting financial terms because fighters are rejecting us before we even discuss that. They are rejecting an opportunity to fight for the world title.
"All we can do is lobby the IBF to continue through the rankings as soon as possible or make Filip a direct mandatory.
"That is something we are pushing.'’
Hrgovic, who is currently ranked No 2, must now continue to search for an opponent for an IBF final eliminator. The Croatian is undefeated in 14 pro fights with 12 KOs.
The vastly more experienced Parker has a 30-2 record.
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) January 4, 2022
Hrgovic must, in order of the rankings, enter negotiations with each contender until he strikes an agreement to fight.
The winner of a final eliminator would then later earn a mandatory shot at the IBF belt, which Usyk is set to defend against Anthony Joshua.
Stuff sports reporters
New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has declined an offer to meet Croatia's Filip Hrgovic in an IBF eliminator fight.
Recent reports had suggested that because Cuba's Luiz Ortiz had turned down a fight with Hrgovic there was a chance the 29-year-old Parker, as the next contender in the rankings, could fill the vacancy.
But it turns out that Parker, who had until Friday to decide whether to fight Hrgovic, wasn't interested. This was despite Britain's Sky Sports website claiming earlier this week that Parker, who beat Derek Chisora in Manchester last month, had emerged as the most likely opponent for the Croatian.
Anyone aspiring to have a crack at Olesksandr Usyk’s IBF heavyweight title must first face Hrgovic, a 2016 Rio Olympic Games bronze medallist.
Parker, the No 3-ranked contender, had been instructed by the IBF to enter talks with Hrgovic - but Hrgovic's promoters have said he has already pulled out.
Parker's camp has been reported as saying it turned down the fight because Parker was focusing on recovering from injuries. This includes issues with his elbows, which have dogged him during his career.
“Joseph's plan was to recuperate a bit and then go to the doctor, and maybe a specialist to get some assessment of the elbows before then planning his next steps,’' Parker's manager David Higgins told NZME.
Higgins said Parker also had been nursing a burst eardrum from his fight against Chisora.
Higgins said the Parker camp had told the IBF they had to “politely decline'’ the opportunity to fight Hrgovic. Higgins also suggested to NZME he had a “loose discussion’' which confirmed the money on offer was “crap'’.
But a representative from Hrgovic camp said no reason had been given for why the fight wouldn't go ahead.
"We weren't given a reason," Kalle Sauerland, who represents Hrgovic, told Sky Sports. "The rankings become a mockery. We have gone through the rankings before.
"This isn't about rejecting financial terms because fighters are rejecting us before we even discuss that. They are rejecting an opportunity to fight for the world title.
"All we can do is lobby the IBF to continue through the rankings as soon as possible or make Filip a direct mandatory.
"That is something we are pushing.'’
Hrgovic, who is currently ranked No 2, must now continue to search for an opponent for an IBF final eliminator. The Croatian is undefeated in 14 pro fights with 12 KOs.
The vastly more experienced Parker has a 30-2 record.
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) January 4, 2022
Hrgovic must, in order of the rankings, enter negotiations with each contender until he strikes an agreement to fight.
The winner of a final eliminator would then later earn a mandatory shot at the IBF belt, which Usyk is set to defend against Anthony Joshua.