Four years after British boxer of Nigerian descent, Moses Itauma, announced himself as one of boxing’s brightest heavyweight prospects with a dominant run at the 2022 European Youth Championships, the 21-year-old sensation now has an opportunity to take another major step towards fulfilling the lofty predictions surrounding his career. Itauma……
Four years after British boxer of Nigerian descent, Moses Itauma, announced himself as one of boxing’s brightest heavyweight prospects with a dominant run at the 2022 European Youth Championships, the 21-year-old sensation now has an opportunity to take another major step towards fulfilling the lofty predictions surrounding his career.
Itauma will face Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight championship on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London, with the bout offering the unbeaten Briton a chance to turn his immense potential into world championship success.
The contrasting journeys of the two heavyweights make the contest particularly intriguing. While Itauma has climbed the division at remarkable speed, Hrgovic, now 34, has spent years positioning himself for a shot at a world title, dating back to a period when his younger opponent was still in junior school.
Interestingly, the two fighters had already agreed to face each other before a world title became the prize. However, Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate the IBF championship, followed by No. 1 contender Frank Sanchez agreeing to step aside, opened the door for Itauma and Hrgovic to fight for one of boxing’s most coveted prizes.
Itauma enters the contest with an unblemished 14-0 record, including 12 victories inside the distance, and is ranked No. 6 among The Ring’s heavyweight contenders. Since turning professional on his 18th birthday in December 2022, he has remained unbeaten and largely untroubled, although none of his previous opponents has been able to seriously push him.
Hrgovic, meanwhile, owns a 20-1 record with 15 knockouts and is ranked one place above Itauma by The Ring. The Croatian believes his experience and power can expose weaknesses in the young Briton and bring his rapid rise to an abrupt end.
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On the bout, The Ring quoted Itauma as saying: “I feel with every fight I have, I’m proving to them that I am capable of what they think I’m capable of. Of course, this fight is a step up, a big step up, and Hrgovic is my toughest opponent to date. I’m not shying away from that. The beautiful thing about boxing is Filip Hrgovic has done so much in boxing, he has achieved so much, but I get to take that away from him with one fight.”
Hrgovic stated: “I think for him, it would be best for him to lose this fight because it can ruin him, to win a world title so young. His head is already in the clouds; he’s already delusional, and I think it can ruin someone who’s not ready for that kind of fame, that kind of money. It can ruin your soul; it can make you lose yourself.”
What Are the Odds?
Itauma has emerged as the overwhelming favourite ahead of the title bout, with some bookmakers offering odds of -700 on the unbeaten heavyweight. Hrgovic is the considerable underdog, with his odds ranging from 5/1 (+500) to as high as 7/1 (+700).
A draw, which would leave the IBF heavyweight championship vacant, is priced at 35/1 (+3500).
