Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic are set to clash for the IBF heavyweight title on 29 August. The belt has been added to their headline bout at London's O2 Arena, raising the stakes for both fighters.
The IBF title became vacant following Oleksandr Usyk's decision to vacate his unified belts. The WBC title went to Agit Kabayel, and the WBA's to Murat Gassiev, leaving the IBF belt available.
This will be 21-year-old Itauma's first world-title fight. Queensberry Promotions' Frank Warren expressed confidence in Itauma, stating, "A lot of people have high expectations of him, as I have by the way." Warren added, "This is a big moment for him, but I'm confident he can do it."
Itauma, with an unbeaten record of 14-0 (12 KOs), was initially ordered to negotiate with Frank Sanchez for the vacant title. However, Sanchez stepped aside on the condition that he would face the winner of the Itauma vs Hrgovic bout.
Hrgovic, 34, enters the fight with a record of 20-1 (15 KOs). He is currently on a three-fight win streak since his sole professional loss in 2024.