Joe Joyce backs Moses Itauma to beat Hrgovic in IBF title bout

Joe Joyce has backed 20-year-old Moses Itauma to defeat Filip Hrgovic in their vacant IBF heavyweight title fight at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday. After sharing the ring with both men, Joyce said Itauma was “another level” and picked his fellow Briton to win.

Joyce has first-hand experience of the two heavyweights. He sparred Itauma before his first fight with Zhilei Zhang, while Hrgovic beat him on points last year after entering the bout as a late replacement for Dillian Whyte.

The Croatian’s only professional defeat came against Daniel Dubois in 2024. Hrgovic had appeared to hold a narrow advantage before Dubois stopped him in the eighth round because of cuts. Dubois later defeated Anthony Joshua by knockout in the fifth round.

Itauma enters the contest after stopping Jermaine Franklin in the fifth round in March. A victory would put him on course to become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson won the title against Trevor Berbick in 1986.

Joyce regards the bout as a major examination for Itauma, while still believing the younger fighter has enough to prevail. He also acknowledged Hrgovic’s experience, toughness and work with trainer Abel Sanchez, with whom Joyce has previously worked.

The winner will be required to meet mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez. That next assignment would provide another demanding test, particularly for Itauma if he captures the vacant title in London. Hrgovic, meanwhile, will be seeking to turn his experience and previous success against Joyce into a second world-title opportunity.