Can fast-tracked Itauma become world heavyweight champion at 21?
British heavyweight Moses Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic on Saturday for the vacant IBF title, with a chance to become one of the youngest world heavyweight champions in history. At 21, he has reached this opportunity faster than any recent British heavyweight, including Anthony Joshua.
On Saturday, 21-year-old British heavyweight Moses Itauma will face Croatia's Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF world title. A win would make him one of the youngest heavyweight world champions ever.
Born in Slovakia to a Nigerian father and Slovak mother, Itauma grew up in Kent, England. His parents initially wanted him to pursue medicine or law, but changed course once his older brother turned professional and the family saw Moses's exceptional natural ability.
Itauma reaches his first world-title fight after just 31 professional rounds — one bout and several rounds sooner than Anthony Joshua, who won the IBF title in his 16th professional fight. A victory would make Itauma the fastest British heavyweight to become a world champion, surpassing Joshua's record.
The title fight came together after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF belt and another contender, Frank Sanchez, agreed to step aside, elevating the Itauma-Hrgovic bout to world-title status. Some, including Hrgovic himself, have suggested Itauma was handed the opportunity too easily, with similar criticism circulating on social media that a final eliminator would have been a more conventional route.
Itauma says he has little interest in proving himself to doubters, noting he finds no satisfaction in meeting other people's expectations. His trainer Ben Davison, who has also worked with Joshua and Tyson Fury, believes Itauma has the temperament to handle the pressure that comes with the moment.
Itauma's past wins over Dillian Whyte and Jermaine Franklin ended in destructive stoppages, reinforcing belief in his potential. Former British heavyweight champion Jeamie Tshikeva, who has known Itauma since his teenage years, believes he is also capable of going the distance in longer, tougher fights.
