Itauma v Hrgovic upgraded to IBF world-title boutImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Moses Itauma (left) has described Filip Hrgovic as his “toughest fight” to date ByKal SajadBBC Sport boxing journalistPublished21 minutes agoBritish heavyweight Moses Itauma’s fight against Filip Hrgovic on 29 August will be for the vacant IBF title.Itauma, 21, has been widely tipped as the next star of heavyweight boxing, with 12 knockouts in 14 professional victories.Promoter Frank Warren told BBC Sport the IBF belt, vacated by Oleksandr Usyk in June, will be on the line at London’s O2 Arena.
“A lot of people have high expectations of him as I have, by the way,” Queensberry Promotions’ Warren told BBC Sport.
“We signed him when he was 16. He was an amateur. We sponsored him and he turned professional with us. And he’s been amazing and sort of taken the world by storm.
“This is a big moment for him. But I’m confident he can do it.”
Itauma had initially been ordered to enter negotiations with Cuban Frank Sanchez for the vacant title and was given a deadline of 29 July.
However, Sanchez has agreed to step aside and will instead face the winner of the bout between Itauma and Hrgovic.
“We paid [Sanchez] some money. We reported whoever wins the fight, you’re not losing out and you’ll get the opportunity to fight for the title against the winner,” Warren added.
Itauma impressed in a fifth-round stoppage of American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester in March and stopped Briton Dillian Whyte in one round in August 2025.
Hrgovic, a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, has won 20 professional fights. The 34-year-old stopped Briton Dave Allen in the third round in May.
“We know Hrgovic is going to come and give 100%, and 100% of him is hard work for anyone,” Warren reported.
