Filip Hrgovic says winning the IBF heavyweight title made him want to stay at the top for years. His first move as champion may tell us how he intends to do it: he is interested in fighting kickboxing great Rico Verhoeven on the proposed Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua undercard, while Frank Sanchez waits for the title shot he was promised.

Hrgovic (21-1, 16 KOs) earned the belt by stopping Moses Itauma in August. Sanchez accepted a payment to let that fight go ahead for the vacant title, on the condition that he would face the winner next. Hrgovic is already discussing a second payment.

“He’s mandatory but if he needs to make another step aside, if financially we agreed, I think we are open to do whatever we want,” Hrgovic told The Ring. “My ultimate goal is to unify.”

The unification claim sounds less convincing beside his interest in Verhoeven, who holds no boxing title. Verhoeven tested Oleksandr Usyk before losing by stoppage in May, but beating him would do nothing to establish Hrgovic against the heavyweight contenders. It would give Hrgovic a prominent slot on a huge bill.

Hrgovic’s recent talkBOXING interview makes the choice more striking. He said the Itauma fight initially left him so bruised and tired that he considered having only a few more bouts. After resting, he changed his mind.

“I want to stay there as long as possible,” Hrgovic told talkSPORT Boxing. “The only option on my mind now is to unify the division.”

He also said he expects fights with Agit Kabayel and Daniel Dubois to be easier than the Itauma bout because neither presents the same speed or southpaw style. Sanchez barely enters that vision, despite being the one opponent with a claim to Hrgovic’s next fight.

Sanchez’s team says it will not accept another step-aside deal. His manager has said the IBF requires the mandatory defense before any intervening bout, including a unification.

Hrgovic endured a hard fight to win the title, and nobody can begrudge him a lucrative offer. But Sanchez has already been paid once to watch someone else fight for the belt. If Hrgovic wants Verhoeven first, the IBF should make him choose between that event and the championship.

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