What To Know
- Heavyweights Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic square off Saturday with the vacant IBF World Heavyweight championship at stake, in a fight that will determine the future direction of the heavyweight division.
- Fight Week activities begin on Wednesday, culminating Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.
- The fight airs on DAZN PPV (free with DAZN Ultimate) beginning with undercard action starting at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT. The main event ringwalk will take place at approximately 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
Get to Know Moses Itauma
If heavyweight boxing represents the pinnacle of the sport for you and you haven’t gotten acquainted yet with Moses Itauma, now is the time to do it.
Itauma, a native of Slovenia who moved to England at a young age, has been called the future of the heavyweight division and the heir apparent to the likes of Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury. Itauma has been in training camp recently working with the former champion.
Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) is still just 21 years old. So far, he has passed every test put in front of him, knocking out veterans Mariusz Wach and Dillian Whyte, and rocking the heavyweight division with his first-ever knockout loss of American Jermaine Franklin as a pro.
Get to Know Filip Hrgovic
Itauma will step into the ring against Filip Hrgovic of Croatia (20-1, 15 KOs), the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medalist who has put together a solid resume, stopping Zhilei Zhang and David Allen, and stopping Joe Joyce and Davis Adelaye.
Hrgovic’s only loss was to Daniel Dubois. Hrgovic has long wanted his opportunity to win a championship. On Saturday, he finally gets his chance.
If Itauma wins, he will become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history, the youngest British heavyweight champion ever, and the youngest current world champion across all weight divisions.
The 34-year-old Hrgovic doesn’t intend to make it easy on the 21-year-old. It is the first significant heavyweight fight since Daniel Dubois stopped Fabio Wardley on May 9, a leading candidate for Fight of the Year honors.
Speed and Movement Power Itauma
Itauma’s speed and mobility are his best assets, fueling accurate combination punching. He often looks like a middleweight with his footwork and agility, but there is no mistaking his heavyweight knockout punching power. Itauma has shown he can stay composed under pressure and calm under fire, impressive considering his age.
Hrgovic Shows Aggression and Toughness
Hrgovic is nicknamed “El Animal” for his aggression and toughness. He likes to get right to the center of the ring and use a classic jab to take control. He sought out veteran trainer Abel Sanchez, who helped develop the offense of another Eastern European fighter in Gennadiy Golovkin, and it’s made for an exceptional team. Hrgovic likes to fight inside, where his strong chin lets him withstand incoming punches while dishing out rolling shots and forearms.
Oddsmakers Look at Itauma vs Hrgovic
Itauma hasn’t faced someone with the pedigree of Hrgovic in his prime. He’s prevailed in several fights where he was considered the underdog. Oddsmakers give the edge to Itauma, currently a minus-800 favorite against plus-500 underdog Hrgovic. They believe Itauma will score his lucky 13th knockout in his 15th pro fight, putting a KO/TKO at minus-300, while giving Hrgovic a plus-800 chance. A decision is currently minus-450 for Itauma and plus-1400 for Hrgovic (betting odds per FanDuel).
Hrgovic has eight first-round knockouts and has only gone past five rounds three times. Hrgovic has only heard the final bell five times.
Will fans see the emergence of a new heavyweight star, or the realization of a long road to a dream?
Unless you’re getting on a flight to London, or are already in place, you can watch live coverage of Fight Week activities on DAZN Boxing, streaming live on YouTube without a subscription needed.
Itauma vs Hrgovic – Fight Week Schedule
Open Workout
• Date: Wednesday, August 26
• 12 noon ET / 9 a.m. PT
Check the Queensberry Promotions YouTube channel
Final Press Conference
• Date: Thursday, August 27
• Time: 8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT
Ceremonial Weigh-in
• Date: Friday, August 28
• Time: 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT
Itauma vs Hrgovic – “Natural Born Thriller”
- Date: Saturday, August 28
- Time: Undercard at 1:30p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT.; main card at 3 p.m. ET/12 noon PT. The main event ringwalk will take place at approximately 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
Watch on DAZN PPV – cost in the United States is $59.99, or free with DAZN Ultimate.
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.
