The world of boxing is ready for a new round of the fight for the heavyweight summit. The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has officially sanctioned a title bout for the vacant belt, previously held by Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk. Two of the division's strongest prospects will fight for the right to become the new titleholder: undefeated British fighter Moses Itauma and experienced Croatian Filip Hrgovic.
London to host a "Born Thriller"
The event, promised to be one of the major ones on the heavyweight calendar, is scheduled for August 29, 2026. The fight will take place at the legendary "O2" arena in London, where large-scale shows are traditionally held. Organizers have already held the first official face-off, where the opponents demonstrated their serious intentions. The event poster features the inscription "Born Thriller", hinting that spectators will see an exciting confrontation.
Moses Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) comes into the fight with an impeccable record, demonstrating powerful knockout strength. His opponent, Filip Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs), possesses rich experience and no less dangerous punching power. The confrontation of two such fighters promises to be spectacular and unpredictable.
How the title became vacant and who was left out
The IBF belt became vacant in June of this year. Oleksandr Usyk decided to vacate his titles to focus on conducting a farewell fight. It was previously reported that the Ukrainian champion was considering a fight against "dangerous" Deontay Wilder as his "last dance".
The situation with the contenders turned out to be complicated. Cuban boxer Frank Sanchez remained the number one ranked fighter and the official contender for the vacant IBF belt. However, promoters managed to find a compromise solution to organize a more commercially attractive fight between Itauma and Hrgovic.
Famous promoter Frank Warren commented on the situation, explaining how the issue with Sanchez was resolved: "We paid [Sanchez] some money. We said: whoever wins, you won't be left out and will get the chance to fight for the title against the winner".
Future plans
Thus, the winner of the bout between Itauma and Hrgovic will be obliged to step into the ring against Cuban Sanchez in his first title defense. This decision allows the intrigue in the division to be preserved and gives Sanchez a chance to fight for the belt in the future. The fight will be broadcast on the DAZN platform, guaranteeing its viewing by fans around the world.
