Former two-time WBC heavyweight challenger Luis Ortiz has declined the possibility to become the mandatory IBF contender by refusing to fight against Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic in an IBF title eliminator.
The Cuban and the Croatian wee given three days to sign the contracts in order to materialize the fight, but according to Hrigovic’s manager Kalle Sauerland, “King Kong” has rejected the offer to square off against the undefeated Balkan fighter.
Ortiz is fresh off a sixht round stoppage victory over former world champion Charles Martin. With Ortiz out of the picture, the IBF will send an offer to another former world champ – Joseph Parker.
Parker lost his belt to Anthony Joshua in 2018 and since then he won 6 straight and lost to Dillian Whyte.