Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic are set to return early next year, with promoter Frank Warren confident in delivering a particularly meaningful occasion for his world champion.
The two heavyweights collided in August, when Itauma built a sizable lead by scoring a second-round knockdown and, more generally, managing to exploit his advantage in speed.
Things then took a turn for the worse when, after unsuccessfully pursuing a grandstand finish, the 21-year-old was reduced to utter exhaustion and suffered a ninth-round stoppage defeat.
As a result, Hrgovic became his country’s first heavyweight champion by claiming the vacant IBF title, while Itauma failed in his attempt to become the division’s youngest major title-holder since Mike Tyson.
However, Warren has reassured media members that Itauma will return to the ring early next year, facing a familiar opponent before embarking on another title charge.
“It will be January, if not before. But January is looking like the date. We’re looking at a couple of [potential opponents] at the moment, and I’m quite confident that everybody will be happy with what we’re going to do.
“I would like him to be in with a [recognisable] name, to start with. I want to get the start of the new year done for him, so he can focus on doing what he wants to do, [which] is to win a world title.”
As for Hrgovic, the Queensberry boss is looking to stage a homecoming for the Croatian, who must defend his title against mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez.
“We’re working hard to do that in Croatia [and] give him his dream. He deserves it. I’m sure the whole nation would turn out for their hero.
“We’re in the middle of [speaking with the Croatian government] at the moment. I’m quietly confident [it will happen]. We like to get things done and [then] announce them.”
Hrgovic has not fought on home soil since 2018, when he unanimously outpointed the ultra-durable Kevin Johnson over eight rounds.
Earlier that year, he scored a third-round finish over Amir Mansour at Arena Zagreb, which has a capacity of around 15,000 and could be an option to host the 34-year-old’s next outing.
The Croatian capital – where Hrgovic is actually from – is also home to the Maksimir football stadium, which boasts a superior capacity of around 25,000.
At either venue, though, Hrgovic-Sanchez is likely to be the biggest boxing event that Croatia has ever hosted, while the last world title fight to take place there was in April 2024, when Ivana Habazin defended her WBC strap against Kinga Magyar.
