I don't think Ortiz is relevant anymore, he's around 44 years old and long past his prime. I don't think beating him would prove much of anything.
Charles Martin frankly has business being ranked in the top 20. Were talking about a guy who lost to Kownacki.
He's relevant in that he's the IBF's top-rated contender and basically everyone in the heavyweight division not named Oleksandr Usyk is rated below him, according to the IBF. That seems kind of relevant.
Thats a lot of ducks for a mandatory title shot. Hrgovic is the most avoided fighter on the planet. He's for real.
Joyce is already mandatory, he doesn't need that risk.Looks like Kabayel also don't want to risk, instead will fight in Germany with Marco Huck, and maybe will earn more money with Huck.Gassiev just posted in instagram that he started trainings.Looks like timed for that fight.
If Hrgovic was a stock I might purchase a little bit now but I sure ain't going all in just yet, his record is littered with the type of fighters you'd expect after only 14 fights and he does have some eye appeal but after watching most of his fights on youtube I'm going to have to see someone throw something serious back at him and see how he responds. I mean he looks good so far but the competition has a lot t do with that .
His last opponent was an undated guy who was in there to win, He was floored several times but swung hard and landed some.
Biggest issue with Hrgovic is the sparring stories and judging by the fact nobody wants a piece of him it seems a lot of them are true. Rumours are he took Wilder to school at 19 years of age. Has taken Dubois apart on numerous occasions and has given practically all of the top guys a rough night. his reputation goes before him and his profile isn’t the biggest so people look at it and think it’s a very tough fight against what is likely a future champion and will only be a $300-600k payday. The IBF should stop wasting time and just say to all top 15. One of you have 14 days to step forward for the challenge. If no one does Filip is mandatory. I don’t get why they so desperately need him to fight an eliminator
So Ortiz breaks his hand on the Saturday, reports it on the Monday, the same day the IBF order Hrgovic/Ortiz. Coincidence? Maybe, or maybe just another example of Ortiz shying away from tough fights, something he's done throughout his career. Ducked Joshua twice, ducked Ustinov twice for 2 IBF eliminators and ducked Hrgovic last summer when Matchroom approached him to fight Hrgovic. Maybe Ortiz did break his hand but with his track record and awful resume padded with journeymen it's hard to believe him.
The ducking MUST stop. If no one takes the eliminator just make him the next mandatory for the title. Forget Ortiz, Hunter, and Parker they had their chance. Someone must fight. Boxing politics suck, as do many of the non-champions.
