British heavyweight Moses Itauma will step into the ring against Filip Hrgovic on Saturday for the vacant IBF title. At 21, Itauma has the chance to become the second-youngest world heavyweight champion in history.
Itauma, who was born in Slovakia and moved to Kent as a child, has been fast-tracked to this world-title opportunity. He arrives at his first world-title shot a fight sooner than Anthony Joshua did for his IBF title bout, having logged 31 rounds compared to Joshua's 34.
Trainer Ben Davison, who has also worked with Joshua and Tyson Fury, believes Itauma has the temperament to handle the pressure. Itauma himself stated, "There's a lot of expectations on my shoulders to carry the flag of British boxing. I just have to live up to it."
His progress has been marked by destructive stoppages over Dillian Whyte and Jermaine Franklin. The fight was elevated to a world-title contest after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF title and Frank Sanchez agreed to step aside.