February 8, 2022 - Croatian boxer Filip Hrgović finally has an opponent in the IBF Final Eliminator as Chinese boxer Zhang Zhilei has accepted his offer 

Index.hr reports that Zhang Zhilei has accepted to fight Filip Hrgović. Zhilei, the 12th boxer according to the IBF, has agreed to enter the ring with the undefeated Croat. The best 11 fighters according to the IBF rankings refused to fight Hrgović before him. The offer finally reached the 38-year-old Chinese boxer. The winner of the fight becomes the IBF heavyweight mandatory challenger. 

Zhang recorded his 23rd victory in his 24th professional career fight in November. He celebrated against the American Craig Lewis with a break in the second round and called out Hrgović. "As long as you think you're good, come. Hrgović is a young and motivated boxer, but for me, he's a baby," said Zhang, who is nine years older than Hrgović.

"Try to get a little faster because otherwise, it won't be an interesting fight. Just be a little faster. If you are slow as usual, the match will be boring," Hrgović replied.

At the same time as Zhang, the offer was received by Australian boxer Demsey McKean, who is one place ahead of the Chinese boxer. McKean refused to fight Hrgović, and Zhang asked for an additional 24 hours to reconsider and finally accepted the IBF's offer. Recall, before this, Hrogović was rejected by Tony Yoka, Luis Ortiz, and Joseph Parker. 

At the end of last year, Hrgović reached his 14th victory in the same number of professional fights.

The winner of this IBF Final Eliminator fight will have the opportunity to box for the IBF champion belt. However, when that will take place is not yet clear because this belt is held by Oleksandr Usik who will fight Joshua first, and then await Tyson Fury, and so on. 

Journalist Dan Rafael reports that the fight could take place in Europe as one of the introductory clashes ahead of the title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua. 

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January 22, 2022 - It has been a whirlwind of unfortunate events for Croatian boxer Filip Hrgović, who now waits for yet another new opponent in the IBF Final Eliminator. 

It's been quite the last few weeks for Croatian boxer Filip Hrgović. After Tony Yoka accepted Hrgović's offer for a big rematch, on Friday morning it was confirmed that there will be no fight, reports Boxing Scene and Gol.hr.

The IBF ruled in favor of an appeal filed by Martin Bakole who rebelled because he felt Tony Yoka owed him a fight. He and Yoka were due in the ring in December in France, but that fight was postponed due to the pandemic. Since the French fighter owes him a fight, Yoka cannot make a deal with any other fighter.

Martin Bakole's lawyers provided evidence confirming that the fight was only postponed to April this year and not completely canceled as claimed by the Yoko team.

This means that the IBF is searching for a new opponent for Filip Hrgović, who was previously rejected by Luis Ortiz and Joseph Parker.

Joe Joyce is expected to be next on the list, but he is still recovering from his injury. If he refuses the invitation, the IBF could contact Agit Kabayel, and next on the list is Chinese boxer Zhilei Zhang, who has already spoken publicly about the fight with the Croatian boxer and who again seems to be the most realistic opponent.

For now, Hrgović and his team will wait for one of the mentioned boxers to accept the IBF invitation. The boxers have three days to respond to the offer, followed by negotiations.

The winner of that fight will wait for the outcome of the upcoming rematch between Oleksandr Usik and Anthony Joshua, which should take place in the spring.

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January 14, 2022 - Filip Hrgović and Tony Yoka have agreed to fight in the IBF Final Eliminator for the Heavyweight World Championship.

Filip Hrgović has finally won the fight of his career! His opponent will be his biggest rival yet, Frenchman Tony Yoka, reports Gol.hr.

After famous boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced the news, it was officially confirmed by Hrgović's managers, the Sauerland brothers. 

"CONFIRMED: @TonyYoka has formally accepted tonight in writing the challenge to fight @Filip_Hrgovic in a final IBF Final Eliminator for the Heavyweight World Championship - El Animal has found a dance partner," reads their announcement on Twitter. 

Recall, due to COVID-19, the Frenchman lost the fight against Martin Bakole, while Hrgović was rejected by Luis Ortiz and Joseph Parker. Yoka received a tempting offer as the next ranked fighter. 

Tony Yoka is arguably the best boxer against whom Hrgovic will meet in the ring for the first time as a professional fighter. Recall, the two have fought three times in amateur competitions. The French boxer won twice and became the Olympic champion in 2016, beating Filip Hrgović in the super heavyweight semifinals by a controversial split decision. Yoka went on to win the gold medal over Joe Joyce after an even more disputed call. 

Both boxers are currently undefeated as professional boxers - Yoka (11-0, 9 KO) and Hrgovic (14-0, 12 KO). 

Negotiations on the division of earnings and the location of the fight will follow. But one thing is for certain - it will be the biggest boxing spectacle in Filip's career. 

As for the position of the main challenger of the IBF champion, the winner of this fight will have the opportunity to box for the IBF champion belt. However, when that will take place is not yet clear because this belt is held by Oleksandr Usik who will fight Joshua first, and then await Tyson Fury, and so on. 

A victory would surely bring Hrgovic great things, while a defeat would be a big step backward in his career.

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