David Adeleye wasn’t the first name put to Filip Hrgovic for his must-win fight on Saturday night.
The Olympic bronze medallist claims Martin Bakole was initially offered the bout on the Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte undercard, only for the towering 6ft 6in Congolese heavyweight to turn down the opportunity.
“Martin Bakole was the first guy that was offered, and he said no, and I said yes, and that fight didn’t happen,” Hrgovic told talkSPORT.com.
“Then they offered this guy, Adeleye. He accepted, I accepted, and that’s it…
“I don’t know [why]. It just didn’t happen. Boxing is a strange business sometimes.
“A lot of things happen behind the scenes, and you never know what is going on.”
It remains unclear why the bout didn’t come off, although this marks the second time the heavyweight showdown has failed to materialise.
Back in 2021, the pair were in advanced negotiations to face each other.
However, Bakole ended up signing to fight Tony Yoka instead.
How has Filip Hrgovic and David Adeleye’s recent form been?
A bout between Hrgovic and Bakole would have, at least on paper, been a more compelling matchup than Hrgovic vs Adeleye.
Both men are ranked within the heavyweight top 10, while Adeleye is currently viewed as a fringe-level contender.
‘Big D’ won the British heavyweight title in April against Jeamie TKV via a contentious sixth-round stoppage.
The shot which spelt the beginning of the end was landed after the referee had called break, resulting in TKV’s handlers lodging an appeal.
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) subsequently ordered an immediate rematch, but Adeleye vacated the Lonsdale belt to fight Hrgovic.
TKV is now set to box Frazer Clarke for the vacant British title, while Adeleye is eyeing a seat at the heavyweight top table with a win over Ring Magazine’s No. 6-ranked big man.
Hrgovic is currently rebuilding his career after having his IBF mandatory status snatched from him by Daniel Dubois on cuts last June.
It remains the sole blemish on his otherwise exemplary 18-1 record, which includes standout wins over Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce.
Adeleye has also only tasted defeat once in 15 fights (14-1).
His setback came at the hands of fellow countryman Fabio Wardley, who flattened him in October 2023 for the British heavyweight crown.
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