Filip Hrgovic vs Demsey McKean fight details
Who wins, 'El Animal' or 'The Tower'?
IBF Mandatory World Title challenger Filip Hrgovic will clash with Australia’s undefeated contender Demsey McKean on a huge sold-out night of boxing at The O2 in London on August 12.
Find out everything you need to know about the heavyweight title eliminator contest below:
Fight Details
Date: Saturday, August 12, 2023
Time: The event begins at 4pm, main card starts from 7pm
Venue: O2 Arena, London
Rounds: 12×3 rounds at heavyweight (+200lbs)
Titles: The contest is an eliminator for the IBF World heavyweight title, which Oleksandr Usyk currenty holds
Ringwalks: Approximately 9pm UK time, but that will depend on the undercard results
Betting Odds: Hrgovic is the bookies favourite as IBF #1.
How to Watch
TV & Live Stream: The action starts on 'Before the Bell' live and free from 4pm on the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel and DAZN App.
PPV: You can watch the main pay-per-view card via the DAZN App from 7pm, which can be streamed via phone, tablet, PlayStation, XBox, or smart TV.
PPV Price: £26.99
Tickets: Tickets priced £40, £60, £80, £100, £150, £200, £300, £400 and £800 (VIP). More details HERE
Live Reports: BBN will be providing LIVE round-by-round results on fight night HERE
Background
Croatia's Hrgovic and Australia's McKean clash in an IBF Final Eliminator on the undercard of Joshua-Whyte 2.
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 gruelling 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.
What have they said?
Fillip Hrgovic: “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.”
Demsey McKean:“This is what it’s all about, the big fights. 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.”
Predictions
Tim Rickson BBN Editor: “Undefeated Aussie McKean will have and a size and style advantage as a 6'6” southpaw. Despite having seven less bouts, Hrgovic is well ahead in his career as the IBF No.1 and possessing a career-best win over Zhilei Zhang, who stopped Joe Joyce early in his last fight. It was very close, so no robbery, it could have gone either way, but the Croatian was given the nod. His last three opponents he has conquered were 56-0 between them, so I think his experience will get him through this tough test to defeat McKean on points.”
Rankings
Hrgovic: WBC #15 / WBA #8 / IBF #1 / WBO #2 / IBO #18 / BoxRec #15
McKean: WBC #40 / IBF #13 / IBO #44 / BoxRec #54
Betting Odds
1/6 Hrgovic
4/1 McKean
20/1 Draw
Running Order
Main Event:
Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte
12×3 Heavyweight contest
Filip Hrgovic vs Demsey McKean
12×3 Heavyweight contest
Johnny Fisher vs Harry Armstrong
12×3 Southern Area heavyweight title
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