BoxRec

Press Release | Filip Hrgovic vs. Demsey McKean Finalized

IBF Mandatory World Title challenger Filip Hrgovic will clash with Australia’s undefeated contender Demsey McKean on a night of boxing at The O2 in London on Saturday August 12, shown exclusively live on DAZN around the world and on DAZN PPV in the UK and Ireland.

The 12-round Heavyweight clash in association with Wasserman Boxing lands on the undercard of the rematch between former two-time World Champion Anthony Joshua and World Title challenger Dillian Whyte, who reignite their bitter rivalry nearly eight years on from their first meeting in Greenwich.

Croatian star Hrgovic (15-0, 12 KOs), a Rio 2016 Olympic Bronze medallist, scored the biggest win of his professional career to date when he outpointed China’s Zhilei Zhang over twelve grueling rounds on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2 in Saudi Arabia last August.

That win, which was a Final Eliminator for the IBF Heavyweight World Title, has aged gracefully after 2008 Olympic Silver medallist Zhang upset Joe Joyce via a punishing sixth-round stoppage at London’s Copper Box Arena in April to win the WBO Heavyweight Interim Title.

Queensland’s McKean (22-0, 14 KO), who is trained by Tony Sims at the Matchroom Elite Boxing Gym in Essex, stopped Germany’s Patrick Korte in three rounds to claim the vacant IBF Intercontinental Title last time out at the South Bank Piazza in South Brisbane in what was Matchroom’s first event Down Under.

Romford Heavyweight sensation Johnny Fisher (9-0, 8 KOs) has looked unstoppable so far on his professional journey, and the 24-year-old prospect has the opportunity to land his first belt when he faces off with Torquay's Harry Armstrong (5-1-1) for the vacant Southern Area Title, with more undercard additions to be announced soon.

"The Heavyweight Champions cannot avoid me any longer and once I have defeated Demsey McKean on August 12, they will have no other option but to face me. I have waited patiently and bided my time but the game is up, 'El Animal' is coming for you and is ready to take the belts back to Croatia.

"McKean will be a tough and strong opponent, but he has never faced anyone as powerful and skilful as me.

"August 12, at The O2 in London, is the night the Heavyweight division starts to change."

“This is what it’s all about, the big fights,” said McKean. “I’ve been grinding a big portion of my life for a fight like this. I’m one win away from fighting Usyk for four World Titles. This is my World Title fight.”

"We have a monstrous night of Heavyweight boxing in store for fight fans arounds the world on Saturday August 12 live from the sold-out O2 in London," said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. "Old foes Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte meet again in a must-win clash at the top of the bill and I'm excited to confirm the first two undercard additions of what will be a stacked card.

"The IBF's number one ranked Heavyweight Filip Hrgovic returns a year on from his Final Eliminator win over Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia. 'El Animal' fights in the UK for the first time as a professional against Australia's unbeaten Demsey McKean who secures the biggest fight of his career.

"'The Romford Bull' Johnny Fisher begins his assault on the domestic Heavyweight scene when he takes on Harry Armstrong for the vacant Southern Area Title, and there's much more to be announced soon. Catch all of the action exclusively live on DAZN around the world and on DAZN PPV in the UK and Ireland."

Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman Boxing, said: "August 12 is going to be a massive Heavyweight night and Filip Hrgovic will have to overcome a very tough, and top ranked Australian, to fulfil his dream of fighting for the World Championship later this year.

"One thing is clear, only Demsey McKean stands between Hrgovic and fighting for the World Title because the winner of Usyk-Dubois is mandated to fight the winner."

This week...

maybe....

Eddie what's going on?

The undercard is still on. It won't be PPV though, it will be on regular DAZN.

The new opponent won't be someone already scheduled (not be McKean, Hrgovic, Chisora, or Washington) as per Dan Rafael.

Joshua will likely fight an opponent soon to be announced. Wallin, Helenius, Makhmudov, Kabayel, Parker, Ruiz, Hunter, and Miller have all said (or their managers/promoters have said) they are willing.

Looks like it will be Robert Helenius:

did I get that right or am I hallucinating?

so instead of wallin, kabayel, mak, hunter, parker, ruiz or miller or whoever else was willing and available they pick frikkin helenius, who just fought a week! ago and the fight before was knocked out in the first round by wilder!!

god damn! tells you everything about how much competitive fighting spirit gunshy joshua has left in him.

I really hope the norse gods are all behind helenius next saturday and he comes to win and knocks the phlegmatic shadowboxing robot joshua clean the fvck out!

helenius fought this last weekend, 5th of august,3rd round tko against a fellow countryman from finland.

again, I like helenius and I hope he comes in and fucks up the farcical shitshow charade they are pulling on us boxing fans and knocks Josh clean out!

so they really expect people paying for this? the worst possible replacement imaginable given the circumstances? it's frikkin ridiculous!

but I guess the mega blockbuster of the century chisora vs frikkin 'g-wash' will make more than up for it!!

HEAVYWEIGHT INSANITY!

adislav123 wrote: ↑07 Aug 2023, 18:15 so instead of wallin, kabayel, mak, hunter, parker, ruiz or miller

To be fair I wouldn't want to face power like Mak, Ruiz, or Miller on short notice. Miller would probably pop anyway.

Hunter and Parker are both quicker/trickier than Whyte, why deal with that on short notice either?

Wallin gave Fury a scare with that cut, so he's out.

That leaves Helenius and Kabayel. Should have given Agit the shot. Maybe not a "name" but Helenius isn't really any more, and they could have promoted Kabayel as an undefeated prospect.

Was not impressed with Hrgovic against Zhang. Looked disinterested and took too many big shots and thought he lost the fight personally. Should beat this duffer though. Would like to see a rematch with Zhang if he beats Joyce.

SportsRatings wrote: ↑07 Aug 2023, 19:43

adislav123 wrote: ↑07 Aug 2023, 18:15 so instead of wallin, kabayel, mak, hunter, parker, ruiz or miller

To be fair I wouldn't want to face power like Mak, Ruiz, or Miller on short notice. Miller would probably pop anyway.

Hunter and Parker are both quicker/trickier than Whyte, why deal with that on short notice either?

Wallin gave Fury a scare with that cut, so he's out.

That leaves Helenius and Kabayel. Should have given Agit the shot. Maybe not a "name" but Helenius isn't really any more, and they could have promoted Kabayel as an undefeated prospect.

You're trying too hard to rationalize every fighter not chosen. Most of these guys, other than Ruiz, are clearly inferior to Whyte. At this point in Hunter's career, 20 months inactive from his draw against Jerry Forrest, it's preposterous to act like fighting him instead of Whyte would be a sudden spike in difficulty level. If Whyte fought Hunter today, he'd KO him in about 8. Not to mention the fact that Whyte would've been in training camp and most late replacements would've come in without a training camp.

I thought Hrgovic was ok, McKean gave he plenty to think about and took him further than I had expected.

McKean performed like a big stiff idiot. Hrgovic continues a streak of unimpressive wins.

That said, they landed some chin checking shots in there and took it a few rounds.

That fight seemed to come too soon for the game McKean.

Hrgovic often seems uninspiring and lacking serious conditioning, but he is technically sound.

McKean certainly warmed up as the fight went on but you can't beat a good technical boxer like Hrgovic with just heart.

Perhaps Dempsey should have studied his namesake's epic brawls against Gene Tunney first?

A boxing ring against a clearly superior technical opponent is not a nice place to find yourself in.

Fair enough McKean did try to soften up Hrgovic to the body but it would seem Filip is pretty strong there.