Zhilei Zhang has agreed to fight Filip Hrgovic, according to an interview from Hrgovic with hrt.hr. According to Hrgovic, Zhang agreed to all terms including financial, and there is no need for any additional discussion, except for the date. Hrgovic stated that it is likely the date will be announced in one to two weeks.
Yes! Finally, a man who is not a coward. I don't wish either of these guys ill, but I will be honest that Zhang will be my sentimental favorite, here.
It would be nice if the IBF had dropped each fighter that refused the fight a place below Zhang. Effectively bumping Zhang up the rankings. But they dropped Parker to #11 above Zhang. Basically, Zhang being outside the top 10, I'm not sure he qualifies for it to be an eliminator, so let's watch this space...
I've been saying Zhang would and should fight Hrgovic for months After checking forum history apparently I haven't said this on the forum. Bizarre.
So whenever people claim boxers can't be cowards scared to fight people who aren't untrained unarmed people in a bar ... just remember these situations where big opportunities are turned down over and over because fighters are scared of being KO'd by other trained boxers.