Moses Itauma's fight against Filip Hrgovic on August 29 has been upgraded to a bout for the vacant IBF heavyweight title. The 21-year-old Itauma, who has 12 knockouts in 14 professional victories, is being tipped as the next big star in heavyweight boxing. Promoter Frank Warren says this is a big moment for Itauma, and that he believes Itauma can win the title and become one of the youngest heavyweight champions since Mike Tyson. If Itauma wins, he could face either Daniel Dubois or Fabio Wardley for two world titles next year.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
The article's tone is overwhelmingly supportive of Itauma, with promoter Frank Warren quoted extensively and positively about his prospects. The language used by Warren is also notable, with phrases like 'sort of taken the world by storm' and '[Itauma] can do it', which suggest a strong endorsement.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.85 for article 270 · logged 2026-08-04
- Published
British heavyweight Moses Itauma's fight against Filip Hrgovic on 29 August will be for the vacant IBF title.
asserted
fight → publish → title
Itauma, 21, has been widely tipped as the next star of heavyweight boxing, with 12 knockouts in 14 professional victories.
asserted
Itauma → tip → victories
Promoter Frank Warren told BBC Sport the IBF belt, vacated by Oleksandr Usyk in June, will be on the line at London's O2 Arena.
asserted
belt → tell → Arena
"A lot of people have high expectations of him as I have, by the way," Queensberry Promotions' Warren told BBC Sport.
asserted
Warren → have → Sport
"We signed him when he was 16.
asserted
he → sign → him
We sponsored him and he turned professional with us.
asserted
he → sponsor → us
And he's been amazing and sort of taken the world by storm.
asserted
he → take → storm
But I'm confident he can do it."
asserted
he → do → it
Itauma would become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson if he beats Hrgovic.
asserted
he → become → Hrgovic
He had initially been ordered to enter negotiations with Cuban Frank Sanchez for the vacant title and was given a deadline of 29 July.
asserted
He → order → July
However, Sanchez has agreed to step aside and will instead face the winner of the bout.
"We paid [Sanchez] some money.
asserted
We → agree → money
We said whoever wins the fight, you're not losing out and you'll get the opportunity to fight for the title against the winner," Warren added.
asserted
Warren → say → winner
Itauma impressed in a fifth-round stoppage of American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester in March and stopped Briton Dillian Whyte in one round in August 2025.
asserted
Itauma → impress → August
Hrgovic, a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, has won 20 professional fights.
asserted
Hrgovic → win → fights
The 34-year-old stopped Briton Dave Allen in the third round in May.
uncertain
old → stop → May
"We know Hrgovic is going to come and give 100%, and 100% of him is hard work for anyone," Warren said.
asserted
Warren → know → anyone
Itauma could face Dubois-Wardley winner at Wembley
uncertain
Itauma → face → Wembley
A victory for Itauma could set up an all-British unification fight next year.
uncertain
victory → set → fight
WBO champion Daniel Dubois defeated Fabio Wardley in May to become a two-time heavyweight world champion, and Warren confirmed the pair will contest a rematch in October.
uncertain
pair → defeat → October
Warren says should Itauma beat Hrgovic and then Sanchez, a fight against Ipswich's Wardley or Londoner Dubois for two world titles may take place at Wembley Stadium in 2027.
uncertain
fight → say → 2027
They're not in boring fights," Warren said.
asserted
Warren → say → fights
Wardley and Itauma are both trained by Ben Davison, and Warren says the trainer will have to "make a decision" if the fight happens.
asserted
fight → train → decision
"I've seen best friends fight each other but they do it for the money they get, which pays the bills," Warren added.
asserted
Warren → see → bills
Russian Murat Gassiev is the WBA champion, while Germany's Agit Kabayel holds the WBC title and is also signed to Queensberry.
asserted
Kabayel → hold → Queensberry
Warren
Itauma could become the second-youngest British boxer in the modern era to win a professional world title.
uncertain
Itauma → become → title
The Chatham fighter will be 21 years and 244 days old when the fight takes place.
asserted
fight → take → place
Prince Naseem Hamed, at 21 years and 218 days, captured a world title at a younger age when he stopped Steve Robinson to win the WBO featherweight title in 1995.
asserted
he → capture → 1995
Teddy Baldock won the vacant world bantamweight title against Archie Bell in 1927, aged 19 years and 346 days.
asserted
Baldock → win → 1927
"Obviously I'm proud of what he's done up to now but if he does this I'll be the happiest guy around because he's such a nice guy," Warren said.
"
asserted
Warren → do → this
- Published
British heavyweight Moses Itauma's fight against Filip Hrgovic on 29 August will be for the vacant IBF title.
asserted
fight → publish → title
Itauma, 21, has been widely tipped as the next star of heavyweight boxing, with 12 knockouts in 14 professional victories.
asserted
Itauma → tip → victories
Promoter Frank Warren told BBC Sport the IBF belt, vacated by Oleksandr Usyk in June, will be on the line at London's O2 Arena.
asserted
belt → tell → Arena
"A lot of people have high expectations of him as I have, by the way," Queensberry Promotions' Warren told BBC Sport.
asserted
Warren → have → Sport
"We signed him when he was 16.
asserted
he → sign → him
We sponsored him and he turned professional with us.
asserted
he → sponsor → us
And he's been amazing and sort of taken the world by storm.
asserted
he → take → storm
But I'm confident he can do it."
asserted
he → do → it
Itauma would become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson if he beats Hrgovic.
asserted
he → become → Hrgovic
He had initially been ordered to enter negotiations with Cuban Frank Sanchez for the vacant title and was given a deadline of 29 July.
asserted
He → order → July
However, Sanchez has agreed to step aside and will instead face the winner of the bout.
"We paid [Sanchez] some money.
asserted
We → agree → money
…and 18 more, not listed.
