Moses Itauma has secured a world title opportunity, set to challenge Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight championship on August 29 at The O2 arena in London. The title became available after Oleksandr Usyk announced his decision to vacate the WBC, WBA, and IBF belts in the previous month. Itauma, an unbeaten British heavyweight, carries a professional record of 14 victories with 12 of those coming by knockout, including a stoppage victory over Jermaine Franklin in March.
Hrgovic presents a significant test for the 21-year-old Itauma, having compiled notable wins against Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce. The Croatian heavyweight’s only professional loss came by stoppage to Daniel Dubois in 2024. The matchup represents a considerable step up in competition level for Itauma, who has progressed rapidly through the heavyweight ranks.
Frank Sanchez, the IBF’s No. 1 contender, has agreed to defer his mandatory title shot until later in the year to allow the Itauma-Hrgovic contest to proceed. Sanchez earned his ranking following a second-round knockout victory over Richard Torrez Jr. in May. According to Sanchez’s manager Mike Borao, the Cuban heavyweight will face the winner of the August 29 bout with no intervening fights, with a target date of December for that championship clash.
Borao indicated that the arrangement benefits all parties involved, including the promoters Queensberry and Warriors Boxing, as well as the IBF. Sanchez preferred additional time to prepare properly for his title opportunity, making the timeline favorable for his camp. The heavyweight division currently sees three title holders following recent changes, with Agit Kabayel elevated to WBC champion and Murat Gassiev upgraded to WBA champion.
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