When Moses Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic in London on August 29, they will be competing for the vacant IBF heavyweight world title. The world governing body has now made that decision.
The heavyweight showdown between Moses Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) and Croatian Filip Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs) is getting a major upgrade. According to “The Ring,” the bout between the two Queensberry fighters on August 29 at London’s O2 Arena has been designated as a contest for the vacant IBF world championship.
Sanchez Receives Compensation for Time Off
The London-based promotion confirmed that the IBF has approved the fight for its heavyweight title. At the end of June, champion Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF belt, as well as those of the WBC and WBA. The IBF had originally scheduled a world title bout between No. 3-ranked Itauma and No. 1-ranked Frank Sanchez. However, the Itauma vs. Hrgovic fight had already been agreed upon two weeks earlier.
Cuban boxer Sanchez (26-1, 19 KOs), who suffered his only loss in May 2024 against Germany’s Agit Kabayel , will receive a step-aside fee for this. “We paid [Sanchez] some money,” Queensberry boss Frank Warren told the BBC. “We said, ‘No matter who wins the fight, you won’t walk away empty-handed. And you’ll get the chance to fight the winner for the title.’”
In the Fast Lane
For both Itauma and Hrgovic, this is their first shot at a world title. The fight also gives Itauma the chance to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history. Mike Tyson, who became world champion at the age of 20 years and four months, still holds the record. Itauma, who will be 21 years, eight months, and one day old on August 29, could knock Floyd Patterson (21 years, 10 months) out of second place in the all-time rankings with a world title victory.
“We signed Moses when he was 16 years old,” Warren told “The Ring.” “We developed him, and he turned pro with us.” The undefeated rising star, who boxes from a right-handed stance, has developed fantastically and, in a sense, taken the boxing world by storm. “This is a big moment for him. But I’m confident he can do it.” DAZN will broadcast the world title fight on August 29 from London’s O2 Arena on pay-per-view.
Text: Frank Schwantes