Moses Itauma to face Filip Hrgović for vacant IBF heavyweight title

Undefeated British heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma is set to face Filip Hrgović on August 29 at the O2 Arena in London for the vacant IBF heavyweight title. The bout follows a deal where IBF number one ranked Frank Sanchez stepped aside to allow the championship contest.

Ahead of the fight, Hrgović has dismissed the hype surrounding the 21-year-old Itauma, omitting him from his personal top-five heavyweight rankings. Hrgović, who holds a record of 20 wins and one defeat, placed Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel Dubois, Agit Kabayel, himself, and Tyson Fury in his elite tier, suggesting Itauma lacks the experience required for world championship competition.

If Itauma secures victory, a potential unification bout with WBO champion Daniel Dubois has been discussed. Itauma has expressed interest in the matchup, stating that a fight with Dubois is on the table and remains a matter of timing. Former boxer Billy Joe Saunders has voiced strong support for Itauma, suggesting the young fighter possesses talent comparable to Muhammad Ali.