British heavyweight Moses Itauma’s battle towards Filip Hrgovic on 29 August will be for the vacant IBF title.
Itauma, 21, has been broadly tipped as the following star of heavyweight boxing, with 12 knockouts in 14 skilled victories.
Promoter Frank Warren advised BBC Sport the IBF belt, vacated by Oleksandr Usyk in June, will be on the road at London’s O2 Arena.
“A lot of people have high expectations of him as I have, by the way,” Queensberry Promotions’ Warren advised 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 giant second for him. But I’m assured he can do it.”
Itauma would become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson if he beats Hrgovic.
He 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.
“We paid [Sanchez] some cash. We mentioned whoever wins the battle, you are not shedding out and you will get the chance to battle for the title towards 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 a single spherical 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 goes to return and provides 100%, and 100% of him is difficult work for anybody,” Warren mentioned.
