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Moses Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic in WBO title eliminator

BBC Sport •
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British heavyweight Moses Itauma returns to the ring on 29 August to challenge Filip Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena. The 21-year-old extended his unbeaten streak to 14-0 with a March victory over Jermaine Franklin, successfully defending his WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental belts. This marks Itauma's first headline fight as he steps up against the experienced Croatian.

Hrgovic, who captured bronze for Croatia at the 2016 Olympics, brings a 21-1 professional record to the clash. The 34-year-old recently stopped Dave Allen in Doncaster and has rebounded from his June 2024 loss to Daniel Dubois with three consecutive wins over British opponents. Promoter Frank Warren believes this matchup represents Itauma's readiness for elite competition.

The bout serves as a WBO title eliminator, with both fighters holding top rankings. Currently ranked first and second respectively, the winner positions themselves for a mandatory shot at Dubois' WBO championship. Originally scheduled for 25 July, the fight was postponed when Anthony Joshua booked that date for his contest with Kristian Prenga.

This showdown pits youth against experience in a critical stepping stone toward heavyweight gold. Itauma seeks to announce his arrival among the division's elite, while Hrgovic aims to secure redemption against the champion who handed him his only professional defeat.