Eddie Hearn claims it’s ‘not fair’ that the IBF allowed Oleksandr Usyk to retain his heavyweight title for a rematch with Tyson Fury… as boxing chief insists ‘you can’t ignore’ mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic

Eddie Hearn has questioned the IBF’s choice to permit Oleksandr Usyk to retain his heavyweight title forward of a right away rematch with Tyson Fury.

The Ukrainian beat Fury in a break up choice this month to develop into the primary fighter to unify the belts since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in 1999.

Nonetheless, Usyk was vulnerable to being stripped of the IBF championship, as he needed to make a compulsory title protection in opposition to Croatia's Filip Hrgović.

Nonetheless, IBF president Daryl Peoples confirmed that Usyk had requested an exception to maintain his IBF heavyweight world title for a rematch with Fury, slightly than being stripped of his title for not going through an IBF obligatory challenger.

And, after Turki Alalshikh confirmed the rematch was set for December 21, Matchroom Boxing chief Hearn insisted it was 'not truthful' to Hrgovic.

Talking on this matter Chris Mannix YouTube ChannelHearn stated: 'My understanding is, there's already been an exception [with IBF allowing Usyk to keep his belt for the rematch with Fury]I perceive each side of this argument.

“You actually don't need the belt to interrupt, however you have got a person [Filip Hrgovic] Which was ordered way back and was ready.

'So, my understanding is that the Fury-Usyk battle occurred on the situation that the winner needed to battle Hrgović with out exception. I don't assume that's going to occur subsequent week [by June 1st] For Hrgovic-Dubois, it must be on the road.

'However possibly the winner of this contest will likely be AJ's subsequent contender within the IBF. We'll have to attend and see. However you possibly can't ignore your obligatory challenger for 2 or three years.

'I get the entire thought of, 'Yeah, it's nice to be an undisputed champion.' However what if the shoe is on the opposite foot, and also you're this man [Hrgovic] It’s been inevitable, and now he goes out and beats Dubois?

'He's been informed, 'You may't win your title again till the summer time of 2025. That's not truthful. I perceive each side of the argument, however I do count on the IBF belt to be vacant, but it surely's impossible it will likely be there by subsequent Saturday,'' Hearn stated.

Though Hearn insisted a right away rematch was unfair to Croatian heavyweight Hrgovic, he admitted one other battle between Fury and Usyk was truthful.

He added: 'It was an ideal battle, so there must be a rematch. We noticed Usyk win the battle.

'For me it was tight, and for some it was a bit vast, but it surely was nonetheless an in depth, aggressive battle.' [Usyk] Perhaps he thinks he can win the rematch, and I believe he’s the favourite to take action.

The rematch between the 2 heavyweight stars was formally confirmed on Thursday afternoon.

in a publish XTurki Alalshikh wrote: 'The rematch between undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk and champion Tyson Fury is now scheduled for December 21, 2024 throughout the Riyadh Season.

'The world will as soon as once more witness one other historic battle…Our dedication to boxing followers continues…We hope you take pleasure in it..'

Hrgović, in the meantime, has been a prime heavyweight contender since his win over Zhilei Zhang in August 2022.

The Croatian will likely be in motion subsequent weekend when he takes on England's Daniel Dubois as a part of the Matchroom vs Queensberry 5-v-5 on the similar Saudi Arabian venue the place Usyk tasted victory.