In just over three years and 31 rounds completed as a professional boxer, Moses Itauma has looked like the future of the heavyweight division. On Saturday, the 21-year-old phenom will put his sublime skillset to the test in the toughest matchup he has faced to date when Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) takes on 6-foot-6 Croatian slugger Filip Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs) for the vacant IBF title inside London's O2 Arena (2 p.m. Four months shy of his 22nd birthday, Itauma has the opportunity to become the second youngest fighter in boxing history to capture a piece of the heavyweight title behind Mike Tyson, who knocked out Trevor Berbick in November 1986 at 20 years and 4 months to capture the WBC championship.
But if you're wondering whether Itauma, a native of Slovakia who was raised in Chatham, England, is excited at all about the historical connotations at play, the 6-foot-4 ½ southpaw used Wednesday's final press conference to put an end to the conversation. "I want to first address that I'm not trying to become the second youngest heavyweight champion of the world," Itauma said. "I'm trying to beat Filip Hrgovic and become a heavyweight champion.
Second of all, this fight is what I wanted. I think it's a star matchup that I reckon I can thrive on. The pressure, I can thrive on.
I'm just waiting to fight. "Obviously, the world title is an achievement and an accolade. That's a plus-one but my sole focus is Hrgovic.
If I'm not going to beat Hrgovic, it doesn't matter about the world title or the money. My job is just to be victorious on fight night." TENSIONS HAVE BOILED OVER! 🤯Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic CLASH at the weigh in ahead of their IBF heavyweight title fight tomorrow night on DAZN 😳 pic.twitter.com/OUpGv5tiwQ Save for back-to-back wins in 2023 in just his third and fourth pro fights, with both ending via six-round decision, Itauma has run through the competition like a hot knife through butter. In 2024, he needed just two rounds to finish former title challenger Mariusz Wach.
Then, in what was expected to be the first fight in which he faced significant pushback against former two-time WBC interim heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte in 2025, Itauma needed just shy of two minutes to score a first-round TKO. Itauma has been so sensational, including in his highlight-reel knockout of Jermaine Franklin in March, that comparisons to everyone from Tyson to even Muhammad Ali have become unavoidable due to his hand speed, footwork and combination punching. But his journey to his first heavyweight title shot came in a fashion that few expected.
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