Moses Itauma will fight for the vacant IBF world heavyweight title on August 29, facing Filip Hrgovic at The O2. The bout offers the unbeaten British contender a chance to claim his first major championship after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt last month.
The path to the IBF title
Itauma, 21, has built a record of 14 wins, 12 by knockout, including a decisive stoppage of Jermaine Franklin in March. His rise has been rapid, but Hrgovic represents a significant step up. The Croatian has defeated Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce, with his only loss coming against Daniel Dubois earlier this year.
The winner will inherit a mandatory challenger in Frank Sanchez, the IBF’s top-ranked contender. Sanchez earned his position with a second-round knockout of Richard Torrez Jr. in May, securing a guaranteed shot at the new champion.
A deal to keep the belt in play
Sanchez’s team negotiated a financial guarantee and maintained his mandatory status, agreeing to defer his title shot until later in the year. His manager, Mike Borao, called the arrangement beneficial for all parties—boxers, promoters, and fans—and noted the timeline works well for Sanchez’s preparation.
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“Frank didn’t want to fight until the end of the year in order to prepare properly,” Borao said. “The agreement was relatively easy to make with Queensberry and Warriors Boxing, although at times it looked like a deal would fail to materialize.”
The Cuban heavyweight has no preference between Itauma and Hrgovic. “He feels he will beat either and become heavyweight champion this year,” Borao added, targeting December for the bout.
The heavyweight setting shifts again
The IBF belt is now the last vacant title in the division. Agit Kabayel has been raised as the new WBC champion, while Murat Gassiev holds the WBA version. That leaves the winner of the August 29 fight as the sole holder of a major belt.
For Itauma, the opportunity is clear. His knockout power has carried him this far, but Hrgovic’s experience against elite opposition will test whether he’s ready for the top level. If he succeeds, he’ll join a short list of British heavyweight champions.