Moses Itauma's heavyweight clash with Filip Hrgovic on 29 August has been upgraded to a bout for the vacant IBF title, promoter Frank Warren has confirmed. The belt was left vacant when Oleksandr Usyk relinquished it in June, and the fight, to be held at London's O2 Arena, represents a major step up for the highly rated 21-year-old Briton, who could become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson if he wins.

Itauma has won 14 of his 14 professional fights, 12 by knockout, and had originally been ordered to fight Cuban contender Frank Sanchez for the title; Sanchez has now agreed to step aside in exchange for a guaranteed shot against the winner. Hrgovic, 34, a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist with 20 wins from 20 fights, is described by Warren as a hard-working, dangerous opponent. Should Itauma prevail, Warren has floated a potential all-British unification clash against Daniel Dubois or Fabio Wardley, possibly at Wembley Stadium in 2027, while a win would also make Itauma the second-youngest British boxer of the modern era to claim a world title, behind Prince Naseem Hamed.