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Itauma vs Hrgovic heavyweight title fight
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Moses Itauma, 21, faces Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight title at London's O2 Arena on Aug 29. The winner becomes world champion, with Itauma potentially the youngest since.
Background
The IBF heavyweight title became vacant after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his belts in June 2026. Itauma, an undefeated 14-0 prospect with 12 KOs, is a heavy favorite against Hrgovic, a 34-year-old Croatian with a 20-1 record. The fight is a major event in the heavyweight division, with the winner set to face mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2026Oleksandr Usyk vacated his heavyweight belts, leaving the IBF title vacant.
- Aug 20, 2026Itauma comments that he views Hrgovic as 'undefeated' despite his loss to Dubois.
- Aug 24, 2026Fight week schedule announced, with events starting Wednesday and the main event Saturday.
- Aug 25, 2026Itauma responds to Hrgovic's taunt, saying it's 'starting to wind me up'.
- Aug 29, 2026Itauma vs Hrgovic takes place at the O2 Arena in London for the vacant IBF heavyweight title.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Itauma is a colossal 8-1 favorite, with his hand speed and power seen as too much for Hrgovic.
- Caution
- Some observers note Hrgovic's controversial win over Zhang and his cut-related loss to Dubois, questioning his chin.
Still unverified
Hrgovic's taunt that Itauma is a 'delusional kid' is reported by The Guardian but not independently confirmed.