Filip Hrgovic is set to face Zhilei Zhang in an IBF eliminator to decide the governing body’s mandatory challenger to take on current champion Oleksandr Usyk.
The Ukrainian claimed the belt when he fought Anthony Joshua back in September last year, winning the WBA and WBO belts at the same time. Joshua and Usyk are expected to fight in May after the deposed Briton immediately exercised his rematch clause after the defeat.
Once that is resolved, the next fight for the winner could, in theory, be ordered by the IBF for a mandatory defence.
Unbeaten Croatian Hrgovic has failed to line up an opponent for his eliminator to decide his place as the mandatory, but according to a number of reports, Zhang - a two-time Olympian for China - is ready to step up.
Zhang is currently ranked 12th out of 15 in the IBF’s rankings, with Joshua in third and second held by veteran Cuban Luis Ortiz, who is being lined up to fight Derek Chisora.