Hunter On Skipping Hrgovic Fight: Triller Just Gave Me Something I Could Not Deny
BY KEITH IDEC
Published Tue May 18, 2021, 09:24 AM EDT
It made better business sense.
That’s Michael Hunter’s simple explanation for why he withdrew from an IBF heavyweight elimination match with Filip Hrgovic recently to fight an unknown, 38-year-old opponent on the Teofimo Lopez-George Kambosos Jr. undercard. Hunter has drawn criticism for pulling out of a fight that could’ve made him the IBF’s mandatory challenger for one of Anthony Joshua’s titles, but the American contender isn’t concerned about what’s being said or written about his 10-round pay-per-view fight with Mike Wilson on June 19 at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Wilson is 21-1, including 10 knockouts, but he has competed almost exclusively as a cruiserweight in 11 years as a professional. The Medford, Oregon, resident also lost his only fight against a top opponent, Denis Lebedev, by unanimous decision in November 2018.
Las Vegas’ Hunter (19-1-1, 13 KOs) discussed his decision to face Wilson instead of Croatia’s Hrgovic (12-0, 10 KOs) during an appearance Friday on SiriusXM’s “At The Fights,” co-hosted by Randy Gordon and Gerry c00ney.
“I still would like to fight [Hrgovic], you know, but, you know, when we’re talking about the business, Triller just gave me something that I could not deny,” Hunter explained, referring to Triller Fight Club, promoter of the Lopez-Kambosos card. “And, you know, we were definitely getting ready for Hrgovic. That was my only focus at the time, but, you know, like you said, when we’re talking about business – it’s always looked and frowned upon when the boxer does a good business move. They never really do that when, you know, there’s promoters making all sorts of bad business moves.
“They’re making so many of ‘em, you can’t really tell which ones are which. So, I think that, you know, they’re just mad that, you know, they, you know, didn’t get what they were, you know, hoping for. You know, to lowball me and, you know, to kind of, you know, get over on me. You know, I was just with DAZN not too long ago. So, you know, we’ve gotta make sure we play our cards right.”
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing won a purse bid last month to earn the right to promote the Hrgovic-Hunter fight. Hunter’s 60-percent share of that winning bid of $606,666 would’ve paid him just about $364,000 for fighting the 6-feet-6, 240-pound Hrgovic, who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The 32-year-old Hunter has been moved down from fourth to 11th in the IBF’s rankings since he withdrew from the Hrgovic fight. Hrgovic, who moved up to fourth from fifth in the IBF’s most recent ratings, will fight the next available leading contender now that Hunter has withdrawn from their eliminator.
and for record I’m not invested in who even wins like that. I’m cheering for Wilder, but I wouldn’t be bothered at all if he lost again. Fighting Joshua is not a bigger fight or payday. Stop it. The whole world knows who Wilder is. Even casual fans. But not Joshua (and I like him)
I’m talking about the world. That is a lie. I live in Japan and that was a big fight. They don’t even watch boxing like that. And I think Joshua is a way better fighter than Wilder. Fighters in the UK are not as popular worldwide. The world follows American boxing. You know that.. that’s like the Cowboys are fukking trash compared to the Bucs or even the Patriots when Tom Brady was playing for them or Peyton Manning when he played for them, but there are no teams more popular in the world than the Cowboys and Steelers. It’s not about who is better. It’s about the awareness all countries have of that entity. The numbers won’t even be close
The reports were wrong and Bush league..well wishing. LolDamn near everyone reported that the arbitration was for compensation for the 3rd fight not happening and had no bearing on making Fury/AJ. Why didn't these idiots just say that the Fury/AJ fight was contingent upon the arbitration case?
Also, why did it even go to mediation/arbitration? Why didn't Wilder just take them to court? That's what Lennox did to Hasim Rahman after Rahman beat him and tried to move on without the rematch
For now... instead we will see Fury beating Wilder a third timeBoxing for you... nobody cares about that shyt aside of them lunatics who ate up the "glove gate".
Let's hope they get done with it quick while AJ fights Usyk so we can see this shyt at last....
Finally a good opinion..honor your commitments.Probability of fukkery might depend on how committed/motivated Fury is for a 3rd match
If he handles his business and dominates Wilder again this is ultimately a positive for him/TR cause I get the feeling the build up for this match is going to be huge with Wilder talking shyt and all the conspiracies and what not. Despite all the people saying they have no interest I wouldn't be surprised if it does the most numbers out of the 3 fights
Make lemonade out of lemons and make the eventual Fury vs. Joshua fight even bigger
I just asked my co-workers. 5 Japanese and one from the Philippines if they know who Wilder is. 4 of them said yes. I asked if they know who Anthony Joshua is and only 2 said yes. Both very popular fighters. But we are talking about worldwide. Where do you live, because I actually live overseas in a country that don’t even watch boxing like that at all. I think Joshua is a better fighter , but he is not more popular worldwide. The world watches American sports, music, movies and all entertainment the most by far . They don’t follow other countries the same.
Be mad at Fury for not honering agreements..
Damn near everyone reported that the arbitration was for compensation for the 3rd fight not happening and had no bearing on making Fury/AJ. Why didn't these idiots just say that the Fury/AJ fight was contingent upon the arbitration case?
Also, why did it even go to mediation/arbitration? Why didn't Wilder just take them to court? That's what Lennox did to Hasim Rahman after Rahman beat him and tried to move on without the rematch
