I feel sorry for him, I always expect a big fight and it never happens, other prospects climb the rankings and Hrgovic stagnates, I somehow doubt that the fight with Zhang will happen because something will surely make that fight not happen...
The last two years his career has literally ground to a halt while Joyce has risen up the rankings and is a final eliminator away from a title shot. Yoka's career has hit a brick wall too after the loss to Bakole. Kind of odd that the oldest of the 3 who was seen as the least likely to succeed due to his age, lack of personality and initially the lack of a big promoter when he signed with Haye is now the one in the best position. Hrgovic right now is almost irrelevant. He's been trying to make a final eliminator for the IBF title now for what seems forever with no success. If the fight with Zhang doesn't happen you have to wonder if the IBF will just strip him of his status and try and organise a final eliminator with someone else.
Hrgovic is simply going to have to go fight somebody in their backyard. Even fight on the cheap to make it happen. His management is blowing it. There is an old saying "don't let making little money stand in the way of making big money".
This is probably not going to win me many friends but.... Pero Hrgović (Filip's father) died on April 17th. Why did they wait until May 3rd (4 days before the fight) to cancel it? Yes, it's possible that Filip wanted to fight Zhang but his camp decided after a couple weeks of observing him that Filip was not in a fit state for the fight. But if Hrgovic v. Zhang isn't be made soon...I'm inclined to believe that Hrgovic's camp saw the same thing that I see - i.e. Zhang is going to be an awfully dangerous opponent for at least 3-4 rounds. And they are looking for a lower-risk way to earn the IBF mandatory. Let's see what happens in the coming weeks.
I'm find with that...if it actually happens. Doesn't look like Usyk v. Joshua 2 will happen before late August at the earliest. If Hrgovic wins and Fury really does want to face the winner of that contest, then I have to believe that Hrgovic's camp (Kalle Sutherland) would be open to negotiations for a "step aside" because the money there would be crazy.
A few years ago I believed Hrgovic was the best up-and-coming heavyweight. But now I have doubts about him. He should fight Zhang no later than August. Other heavyweights - Jalolov, Anderson, and Dubois - all probably have a brighter future than Hrgovic. Even older guys like Makhmudov and Kossobutskiy may do better in the next few years.
Zhang has had a history of foot and ankle problems going back to 2015. If he happens to be near-100% (which he wasn't for Forrest) - he is extremely dangerous for at least a 3-4 rounds. I'm not really down on Hrgovic as a fighter. But he's in a trap of sorts right now - he's on the cusp of really big money which tends to make a fighter's camp conservative...but maybe also on the cusp of wating too long to really step up.
Zhang was dropped multiple times by big punchers in the amateur ranks, so I don't know how well he'll do in a firefight against a guy who also has power. That said, Hgrovic has regressed a bit in recent years. He looked a lot sharper when he faced Amir Mansour in his 6th pro fight and stopped him in 3 rounds. The footwork, the angles, his lead look and how he baited guys in after landing a few punches, back then a lot reminded me of Vitali Klitschko.
