Moses Itauma promoter highlights Anthony Joshua contrast as first world title looms

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Frank Warren has hinted that Moses Itauma’s first world-title win will be a bigger achievement than Anthony Joshua’s, if Itauma beats Filip Hrgovic this month.

On 29 August, Itauma and Hrgovic will clash in a heavyweight main event at London’s O2 Arena, and this week brought the news that the IBF title has been added to the fight.

Victory for Itauma would see the unbeaten Briton, 21, become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson. Yet he faces a stern test against Croatia’s Hrgovic, 34, who has lost just once as a professional.

Anthony Joshua (right) stopped Charles Martin to become a world champion in 2016 (Getty)

Itauma vs Hrgovic will take place 10 years after Joshua won his first world heavyweight title – the same IBF belt, in the same arena, curiously.

And in a call with The Independent and other outlets on Thursday, Itauma’s promoter Warren said: “I hope it will be [the start of a similar journey to Joshua’s], although I do think that Hrgovic is a much better fighter than Charles Martin.”

The Queensberry Promotions boss was referring to Joshua’s opponent on that night in 2016, when “AJ” stopped the American in two rounds.

“Although [Martin] had the belt, he got the belt by default when Tyson [Fury] vacated – when he had his problems,” Warren added.

“But yeah, it’s part of [Itauma’s] journey. This is the journey. It’s got to be – what is it? – four or five years in front of where AJ was at this particular time in his career, when fighting for a title.”

Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing

Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.

Buy Now

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing

Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.

Buy Now

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Indeed, Joshua was 26 when he beat Martin. AJ went on to become a two-time unified champion, and he is currently contracted to box compatriot Fury in a long-awaited super-fight.

That contest, despite being one of the biggest in British history, is currently on track to take place in the US.

Moses Itauma (left) with his promoter Frank Warren (Getty)

“I can’t comment on that at the moment, because it’s not for me to do it,” Warren said on Thursday. “We have our arrangement and promotional arrangement with Tyson, but it’s not for me to announce what’s gonna happen with that fight yet.”

However, Warren, 74, did insist that it will take place in November.