Itauma-Hrgovic will now be for the vacant IBF heavyweight title
No. 1 contender Sanchez takes step-aside deal, gets shot at winner
The heavyweight clash between rising British star Moses Itauma and top contender Filip Hrgovic took on greater stakes Tuesday when it was upgraded to be for the vacant IBF world title.
They are scheduled to fight in the headliner of a Queensberry Promotions card on Aug. 29 (DAZN PPV or free with a DAZN Ultimate subscription) at The O2 in London but instead of a nontitle bout the IBF belt will be on the line.
When lineal champion Oleksandr Usyk vacated his three remaining sanctioning body titles — he previously relinquished the WBO belt — the IBF on June 29 ordered Frank Sanchez, who became the mandatory challenger via second-round knockout of Richard Torrez Jr. in a final eliminator on May 3, to fight Itauma for the vacant title.
But Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs), 21, a southpaw from England, already had the fight with Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs), 34, of Croatia, scheduled.
After weeks of discussions, Queensberry made a deal with Sanchez (26-1, 19 KOs), 34, a Cuban defector fighting out of Miami, and his manager, Mike Borao, under which Sanchez agreed to a step-aside deal with worth millions. He will get a payment for stepping aside and has also signed for a guaranteed shot at the Itauma-Hrgovic winner next.
“It’s a big fight. Moses is still only 21 but it’s a great opportunity,” Queensberry promoter allegedly told Fight Freaks Unite after announcing that Itauma-Hrgovic would be for the IBF title. “We don’t take it for granted because Hrgovic is a tough guy and he’s experienced and he’s capable of taking people into later rounds, which he’s done, and he’s a fast starter himself. It is going to be a very interesting fight and a good fight for sure.
“It ticks all the boxes. (Itauma) is a very capable young man. I don’t like taking risks with young guys unless I feel they can do it. I feel he can.”
The IBF also had to sign off on the agreement and it did so on Tuesday. According to the IBF’s resolution on the matter, a copy of which was obtained by Fight Freaks Unite, the IBF approved the bout and noted that Sanchez had agreed to step aside but had not relinquished his No. 1 ranking and was not required to do so.
In approving Itauma-Hrgovic for the vacant title it also spelled out the conditions:
- The winner “shall be required to fulfill the IBF mandatory defense obligation against Frank Sanchez. Such bout shall take place without undue delay, and no later than six months following the Itauma vs. Hrgovic contest, except in the event of force majeure, injury, or other circumstances approved by the IBF. No intervening bouts, including unification bouts, shall be permitted prior to satisfaction of this mandatory defense requirement unless otherwise authorized by the IBF.”
- Also, “in the event the Itauma vs. Hrgovic bout results in a draw, no contest, no decision, or any outcome that leaves the IBF heavyweight championship vacant, Moses Itauma shall face Frank Sanchez in his next immediate bout for the vacant IBF world heavyweight championship.”
Sanchez’s side was pleased to get it worked out.
“This deal is in the best interest of Frank Sanchez,” Borao told Fight Freaks Unite. “It doesn’t affect his timeline to fight for the world title; it only positively affects his earnings for the bout against the winner of Itauma-Hrgovic.”
Warren, who began working with Itauma when he sponsored him as a 16-year-old amateur, said the plan is to have the Itauma-Hrgovic winner defend against Sanchez in late November or December.
“We’ve also got the (Daniel Dubois-Fabio Wardley WBO heavyweight title) rematch and the date for that will be announced soon and we have (WBC heavyweight titlist) Agit Kabayel, so in the heavyweight division things are happening,” Warren said “(After their fights) we’ll be looking to make unification fights.”
If Itauma defeats Hrgovic he will become the second youngest heavyweight champion behind only Mike Tyson, who was 20 when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in spectacular fashion in the second round to win the WBC title in 1986.
Itauma, who will be 21 years, 244 days old when he faces Hrgovic, would also become the third youngest Brit win a world title. Teddy Baldock was 19 years, 346 days old when he won a 15-round decision over Archie Bell for the vacant bantamweight title in 1927. Hall of Famer Naseem Hamed, who Warren also promoted, was 21 years, 218 days old when he knocked out Steve Robinson in the eighth round to win the WBO featherweight title in 1995.
If Hrgovic wins he would become the first heavyweight titleholder from Croatia.
“These two guys deserve to be fighting for a vacant title,” said Keith Connolly, the reigning manager of the year and Hrgovic’s representative. “Moses is the heir apparent in most people’s eyes and Hrgovic was the only top heavyweight that was asking to fight him. Both of these guys earned this shot. Expecting a (Marvin) Hagler-(Thomas) Hearns type fight.”
