By Quitano Gonzalez
Tue, Aug 18 2026
Itauma vs. Hrgovic: Can the 21-Year-Old Claim the Vacant IBF Heavyweight Title?
British boxing’s rising star Moses Itauma is set for his biggest test yet on August 29, as he prepares to enter the ring for the 15th time in his professional career. The 21-year-old is set to face Filip Hrgovic, but the stakes for the contest have since increased.
Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed that the two heavyweights will now be fighting for the vacant IBF belt, after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title in June. If Itauma were to win, he would become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson, who was only 20 when he beat Trevor Berbick in 1986.
While Hrgovic is no easy opponent for the Briton, Itauma is supremely confident, recently stating he would “bet his house” on winning in London. And his skill set certainly lends itself to his success.
How Itauma can cause issues for Hrgovic
The combination of speed and power has helped turn Itauma into heavyweight boxing’s most promising talent. He needed just five rounds to dispose of Jermaine Franklin, with the eventual knockout coming from a rapid left-hand uppercut as the pair separated.
Along with his explosive power that has been built through a mix of boxing and Olympic weightlifting training, what stands out most is Itauma’s movement within the ring. Throwing a mix of feints allows him to deceive his opponents regularly, leading them to drop their guard, which allows him to get off a clinical shot - something that could be necessary as he looks to close the distance to Hrgovic and land powerful strikes.
Possessing exceptional in-ring intelligence to go along with those physical attributes, it’s little wonder why Itauma is considered the favorite. Those looking to back him at the end of August can claim a Fanatics promo code to place wagers on the contest.
Where Hrgovic can trouble over Itauma
But Hrgovic is not to be underestimated. The Croatian himself possesses a stellar record at the professional level, and holds advantages in several key areas that could prove to be decisive.
When the two men stand across the ring from each other in London, what will be most apparent is the size difference. Hrgovic is the bigger heavyweight, weighing in at 248.4 lbs in his most recent fight against Dave Allen, while Itauma was 242.1 lbs when he fought Jermaine Franklin. While not too steep a difference, it could allow the Croatian to put more power behind his punches.
But where Hrgovic could thrive is if he maintains distance between himself and his opponent. Possessing a three-inch reach advantage over Itauma will help him control proceedings and limit Itauma’s effectiveness inside, and will arguably be his biggest asset if he is to win as an underdog.
Should the British fighter manage to connect with powerful shots, then his opponent’s durability comes into play. Against Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce, Hrgovic absorbed punishment and dragged his opponents into deep waters, eventually winning by unanimous decision. The most Itauma has gone at the professional level is six rounds, and this raises a different proposition for him: can he thrive the longer the fight goes on?
Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed that the two heavyweights will now be fighting for the vacant IBF belt, after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title in June. If Itauma were to win, he would become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson, who was only 20 when he beat Trevor Berbick in 1986.
While Hrgovic is no easy opponent for the Briton, Itauma is supremely confident, recently stating he would “bet his house” on winning in London. And his skill set certainly lends itself to his success.
How Itauma can cause issues for Hrgovic
The combination of speed and power has helped turn Itauma into heavyweight boxing’s most promising talent. He needed just five rounds to dispose of Jermaine Franklin, with the eventual knockout coming from a rapid left-hand uppercut as the pair separated.
Along with his explosive power that has been built through a mix of boxing and Olympic weightlifting training, what stands out most is Itauma’s movement within the ring. Throwing a mix of feints allows him to deceive his opponents regularly, leading them to drop their guard, which allows him to get off a clinical shot - something that could be necessary as he looks to close the distance to Hrgovic and land powerful strikes.
Possessing exceptional in-ring intelligence to go along with those physical attributes, it’s little wonder why Itauma is considered the favorite. Those looking to back him at the end of August can claim a Fanatics promo code to place wagers on the contest.
Where Hrgovic can trouble over Itauma
But Hrgovic is not to be underestimated. The Croatian himself possesses a stellar record at the professional level, and holds advantages in several key areas that could prove to be decisive.
When the two men stand across the ring from each other in London, what will be most apparent is the size difference. Hrgovic is the bigger heavyweight, weighing in at 248.4 lbs in his most recent fight against Dave Allen, while Itauma was 242.1 lbs when he fought Jermaine Franklin. While not too steep a difference, it could allow the Croatian to put more power behind his punches.
But where Hrgovic could thrive is if he maintains distance between himself and his opponent. Possessing a three-inch reach advantage over Itauma will help him control proceedings and limit Itauma’s effectiveness inside, and will arguably be his biggest asset if he is to win as an underdog.
Should the British fighter manage to connect with powerful shots, then his opponent’s durability comes into play. Against Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce, Hrgovic absorbed punishment and dragged his opponents into deep waters, eventually winning by unanimous decision. The most Itauma has gone at the professional level is six rounds, and this raises a different proposition for him: can he thrive the longer the fight goes on?