Eddie Hearn has been very vocal about the IBF's decision to allow Oleksandr Usyk to retain his heavyweight without having to face the mandatory challenger, Filip Hrgovic, and give Tyson Fury an immediate rematch, according to Marca.
Fury was defeated by Usyk in a split decision in Saudi Arabia, making the Ukrainian champion the first fighter since 1999 who was able to unify all heavyweight belts.
However, Usyk was meant to defend his titles against Croatia's Filip Hrgovic, but the IBF allowed him to keep his titles so Tyson Fury has a chance of redemption, something that Hearn did not like at all.
Turki Alalshikh confirmed the Fury vs Usyk 2r for December 21, and immediately Matchroom boxing head honcho Eddie Hearn qualified this decision as being unfair to the Croatian fighter.
Hearn spoke at the Chris Mannix YouTube channel and did not hold back 'My understanding is, there's already been an exception [with IBF allowing Usyk to keep his belt for the rematch with Fury]. I get both sides of the argument"
'You really don't want the belts to be fragmented, but you've got a guy [Filip Hrgovic] who has been ordered ages ago and has been waiting and waiting and waiting." Hearn elaborated.
He continued "So, it was my understanding that the Fury-Usyk fight took place on the condition that the winner had to fight Hrgovic with no exceptions. I don't think that's going to happen next week [by June 1st] for Hrgovic-Dubois for that to be on the line."
"But maybe the winner of that has AJ next in line for the IBF. We have to wait and see. But you can't ignore your mandatory challenger for two or three years." Hearn added.
'I get the whole idea of, 'Yeah, it's great to have an undisputed champion.' But what if the shoe is on the other foot, and you're this guy [Hrgovic] that's been mandatory, and now he goes out and beats Dubois?" he insisted.
'He's told, 'You can't get your title shot until the summer of 2025. It's not fair. I get both sides of the argument, but I do expect the IBF belt to come vacant, but it's very unlikely for next Saturday,' said Hearn.
In a post on X, Turki Alalshikh wrote: 'The rematch between the Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk and the Champion Tyson Fury is now scheduled on the 21 of December 2024 during Riyadh Season.
