There are some serious changes unraveling in the heavyweight division. The IBF has updated its heavyweight rankings, and these changes might have a significant impact on how future fights will take their course. The boxing realm awaits the much-anticipated clash between the current IBF heavyweight title holder, Oleksandr Usyk, and his challenger Tyson Fury. However, the updated list will directly impact the fights that will come in the wake of it.
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A December or January clash between the Ukrainian fighter, and Fury remains on the horizon. And once the fight is done and the winner emerges, that’s when the new rankings will bring a wave of changes that will disrupt the way the heavyweight division is perceived. The winner of the Usyk vs. Fury fight will have to defend their IBF title against a mandatory fighter who has now assumed the top position in the organization’s list. But who is the fighter?
In the wake of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury, new IBF rankings will swirl a storm
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Still assuming the first position is Croatian fighter, Filip Hrgovic. Following him in the second position is Otto Wallin, who has pushed Anthony Joshua to the third position. When a winner emerges from the Usyk vs Fury fight, he will have to further defend it against Hrgovic. But if he fails to do so, the title becomes vacant. The potential of which remains high. Fury-Usyk has a two-way rematch clause, which means it can be triggered by either fighter.
The IBF have now officially updated their heavyweight rankings and so will order Filip Hrgovic (IBF #1) vs Otto Wallin (IBF #2) for the vacant IBF heavyweight world title next year, if the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk winner is stripped as expected. Anthony Joshua is IBF #3.
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 10, 2023
When the title does become vacant, the Croatian fighter will fight Wallin for the vacant title. In the wake of this massive reshuffle, the boxing realm has risen to the occasion and has some things to say.
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“Good Decision,” The Boxing Realm gives their two cents about the Reshuffle
IBF’s decision to push Wallin to the second position has opened a new range of fights in the heavyweight belt. But one person who would not be glad about the changes is perhaps Eddie Hearn. The promoter has tried his best to keep his fighter AJ away from heavy pounders like Deontay Wilder and Hrgovic. However, the new rankings leave no space for the British fighter to miss these big punchers. A user rejoiced about the decision by the IBF.
Good decision. Wallin vs Hrgovich for the Vacant IBF Heavyweight Title winner fights Fury/Usyk Winner.
Just be grateful we finally get Undisputed. What’s Eddie Hearn’s excuse now not to make Joshua vs Wilder?
— Hamed (@HamedBoxing) October 10, 2023
Another fan welcomed this decision. However, they alluded that the reshuffle would work immensely in favor of Fury if he won the fight against Usyk.
Fury will win Undisputed then ..
Be stripped ( he would bin IBF anyway)
And then fight Wallin again in a rematch
Undisputed yet again before retirement pic.twitter.com/Rin7dQvN0Y
— Patrick Whelan (@Patrick__Whelan) October 10, 2023
Further, another fan criticized the entire heavyweight division for the fights that have collapsed this year. There is a big discussion in the realm regarding the division and how a lot of crucial fights aren’t being made.
For Walking to get a title fight just shows how little you really need to do to get there. It’s a joke have one fight in like 3 years and get a shot at a belt. The future is like 5 fights in a boxing career.
— Louis Pathaan (@jaamboree) October 10, 2023
Wallin, who assumed the second position now has earlier fought against Fury in the year 2019. That night, the Swedish fighter lost via a unanimous decision. Now, the reshuffle in rankings by the IBF gives him an opportunity to fight Fury again if he wins against Hrgovic. A fan was excited by this proposition.
Just like Ruiz, I want to see how Wallin does against other top fighters, so we know whether his performance against Fury was a fluke or not. So I like this fight.
— Bball Jones 41 (@Bballjones41) October 10, 2023
Both AJ and Wilder have gone back and forth about having a fight against each other, however, the future of this clash remains uncertain. A fan said that the only fight that keeps AJ relevant today is the Wilder fight.
I’ve honestly lost all interest in Anthony Joshua’s career.
Outside the Wilder fight I’m not really interested in seeing him fight anyone.
— Curtis_P (@CurtP_) October 10, 2023
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With days following this reshuffle, it will be interesting to see how the heavyweight class navigates through the new status of fighters.
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What do you think of the reshuffle? Let us know in the comments section below.
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