Moses Itauma can secure sporting icon status that transcends boxing if he completes his historic world title ascent, says Frank Warren. Itauma fights Croatian Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight world title at London's O2 Arena on Saturday. The undefeated 21-year-old has swept aside all those placed in front of him throughout his 14-fight career and stands on the brink of a historic victory that could shape the heavyweight division for a generation.
Aged 21 years, eight months and one day on fight night, victory would see Itauma become Britain's youngest heavyweight world champion and the second-youngest in history behind Mike Tyson. "I'll be very proud if that happens," Itauma's promoter Warren told Sky Sports News. "It will be a fantastic achievement for somebody who's only had 31 professional rounds of boxing and no senior bouts as an amateur.
"He's the best young fighter at this stage of his career that I've been involved with. He's so mature, mentally and physically, as a fighter. He's got a tremendous boxing brain and he's very articulate.
"He's a very smart young man, he's got a very smart brain. He's very level-headed, very humble. But I'll tell you what, he can fight.
"If he comes through, I don't think he'd just be an icon in boxing. He'd be a sporting icon." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Itauma's bout with Hrgovic has had a coming-of-age feel from the moment it was signed in June. Its elevation to world title status, following unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk's decision to relinquish the belt, only added further significance.
Hrgovic, whose only career defeat came via a TKO loss to current WBO champion Daniel Dubois, represents a marked step up in opposition. The 34-year-old is not only bidding to become Croatia's first heavyweight world champion but, like Itauma, has the opportunity to stake a claim in a division in transition. "Itauma is fighting somebody who's not just coming to show up," Warren added.
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