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 decision to allow Oleksandr Usyk to retain his heavyweight title for an immediate rematch with Tyson Fury.

The Ukrainian defeated Fury this month in a spilt decision victory to become the first fighter since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999 to unify the belts.

However, Usyk was in danger of being stripped of his IBF Championship due to the fact he was meant to make a mandatory title defence against Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic.

However, IBF President Daryl Peoples confirmed that Usyk requested an exception to keep his IBF heavyweight world title for a Fury rematch, rather than being stripped for not facing his IBF mandatory challenger.

And, after Turki Alalshikh confirmed that the rematch has been set for December 21, Matchroom boxing chief Hearn has insisted it’s ‘not fair’ on Hrgovic.

Eddie Hearn questioned the IBF’s decision to allow an immediate rematch for Usyk and Fury

Oleksandr Usyk (left) defeated the Gypsy King via split decision after an impressive display

Tyson Fury ready for a rematch after losing against Usyk

Speaking on the Chris Mannix YouTube channel, Hearn said: ‘My understanding is, there’s already been an exception [with IBF allowing Usyk to keep his belt for the rematch with Fury]. I get both sides of the argument.

‘You really don’t want the belts to be fragmented, but you’ve got a guy [Filip Hrgovic] who has been ordered ages ago and has been waiting and waiting and waiting.

‘So, it was my understanding that the Fury-Usyk fight took place on the condition that the winner had to fight Hrgovic with no exceptions. I don’t think that’s going to happen next week [by June 1st] for Hrgovic-Dubois for that to be on the line.

‘But maybe the winner of that has AJ next in line for the IBF. We have to wait and see. But you can’t ignore your mandatory challenger for two or three years.

‘I get the whole idea of, ‘Yeah, it’s great to have an undisputed champion.’ But what if the shoe is on the other foot, and you’re this guy [Hrgovic] that’s been mandatory, and now he goes out and beats Dubois?

‘He’s told, ‘You can’t get your title shot until the summer of 2025. It’s not fair. I get both sides of the argument, but I do expect the IBF belt to come vacant, but it’s very unlikely for next Saturday,’ said Hearn.

Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic is the mandatory challenger for Usyk’s IBF heavyweight title

Usyk became the first man in 25 years to unify the division after beating Fury last month

Usyk is moved to tears as he talks about his supportive late dad

While Hearn insisted that the immediate rematch was unfair on Croatian heavyweight Hrgovic, he did admit that another fight between Fury and Usyk made sense.

He continued: ‘There should be a rematch because it was a great fight. We had Usyk winning the fight.

‘I had it tight, and some had it a little wider, but still a close, competitive fight. He [Usyk] probably thinks he can win the rematch, which I think he’s the favorite to do’.

The rematch between the two heavyweight stars was officially confirmed on Thursday afternoon.

Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh has confirmed that the heavyweights will battle again in December

In a post on X, Turki Alalshikh wrote: ‘The rematch between the Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk and the Champion Tyson Fury is now scheduled on the 21 of December 2024 during Riyadh Season.

‘The world will watch another historical fight again…Our commitment to boxing fans continues…We hope you enjoy it..’

Hrgovic, meanwhile, has been the top heavyweight contender since an August 2022 win over Zhilei Zhang.

The Croatian will be in action next weekend when he takes on England’s Daniel Dubois as part of the Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5-v-5 in the same Saudi Arabia venue where Usyk tasted victory.