The upcoming heavyweight showdown between British prospect Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic on 29 August will now serve as a bout for the vacant IBF world title. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed that the championship belt, left empty by Oleksandr Usyk in June, is on the line at the O2 Arena in London.
Itauma, aged 21, has maintained an impressive record with 14 professional wins, including 12 knockouts. Warren, who signed the fighter when he was just 16, expressed his belief in Itauma’s potential to become a major figure in the sport. The fight was initially intended to involve Frank Sanchez, but the Cuban boxer has agreed to step aside in exchange for a future title opportunity against the winner of the August clash.
Standing in Itauma’s way is the experienced Filip Hrgovic, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist who has secured 20 professional victories. Should Itauma emerge victorious, he could potentially pursue an all-British unification bout in 2027 against the likes of Daniel Dubois or Fabio Wardley. Such a victory would mark a significant milestone, as Itauma would become one of the youngest British boxers in history to secure a professional world title.
