Filip Hrgovic could be on the verge of securing a major opportunity after claiming his IBF title with a stunning ninth-round finish over Moses Itauma.

The pair squared off last month, with many expecting Itauma to become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson dethroned Trevor Berbick in 1986.

It then appeared as though such predictions would be proved accurate, as the 21-year-old scored a second-round knockdown and generally outclassed his opponent with speed and movement.

That was until Itauma completely emptied his gas tank and Hrgovic, in response, managed to gather enough energy to stop the prodigy on his feet.

As a result, the Croatian has placed himself in the shop window for unification matches and lucrative paydays, but must first defend his belt against IBF mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez.

Should he emerge triumphant, Hrgovic may then explore a potential clash with Rico Verhoeven, who has been named by Turki Alalshikh as a worthy challenger.

The former kickboxing champion entered his second professional boxing match in May and, despite suffering an 11th-round stoppage defeathe was widely credited with giving Oleksandr Usyk one of his toughest assignments.

Since then, Verhoeven has been placed at No.8 by the WBC while, at this stage, the remaining three sanctioning bodies are yet to rank him.

According to reporter Mike Coppingerthough, Saudi boxing chief Alalshikh has named Hrgovic-Verhoeven as one of seven fights he is eager to make.

Big-time fights @Turki_alalshikh tells me are on his wishlist to make:

Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua

Jai Opetaia-David Benavidez

Shakur Stevenson-Devin Haney

Naoya Inoue-Bam Rodriguez

Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez rematch

Filip Hrgovic-Rico Verhoeven

Crawford-Ryan Garcia pic.twitter.com/4dJhvFfUAW

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) September 13, 2026

The remainder of the boxing world, meanwhile, would perhaps rather see Hrgovic face one of his fellow champions, whether it be Agit Kabayel, Murat Gassiev or the winner of Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2.

Hrgovic survived Itauma’s most dangerous attacks, forced him to keep working, and watched the younger fighter gradually empty his fuel tank. Itauma threw with maximum force far too often, failing to conserve enough energy for the second half. Once exhaustion took over, his speed, defense, and judgment disappeared together.

Some fighters are constructed for short, violent fights. Their muscles consume energy rapidly. The explosive style that makes them dangerous early becomes a liability later. Training may help Itauma distribute his effort, but it cannot guarantee that he will become a strong 12-round heavyweight.

That leaves his promoters with an uncomfortable choice. A durable opponent such as Guido Vianello would force Itauma to manage his punches, staying defensively responsible after the early rounds. It would also bring the danger of Itauma fading again if his conditioning has not changed. Matching him against someone durable like Vianello or even a disciplined operator who refuses to fold early carries real danger, but it is the only way to find out if his engine can actually be overhauled.

Postponing that reality check just guarantees that the next world-class heavyweight he faces will wait out the early blitz and do the exact same thing Hrgovic did. His team may instead select someone vulnerable enough to be removed before the questions begin. That approach can repair his record and confidence, but it only postpones the test.

Itauma does not need another opponent who makes his power look frightening. Everyone already knows he can punch. He needs someone who absorbs the early attack, makes him think, and forces him to operate while tired.

The danger is substantial, but avoiding it will not make the weakness disappear. Until Itauma succeeds against a heavyweight who takes him deep, every future title push will carry the fear that he remains a six-round fighter trapped in a 12-round division.

When a blue-chip asset gets stopped like that, the standard promotional playbook kicks in immediately: dial back the competition, find an overmatched veteran with a recognizable name who folds under fire, and stage a highlight-reel knockout within three rounds. It restores the illusion, protects the commercial investment, and buys time to rebuild the house of cards.

That approach solves nothing. Itauma spent his development feasting on sacrificial targets like Demsey McKean, Mariusz Wach, and a completely washed Dillian Whyte. None of those matchups forced him to respect return fire, set a sustainable pace, or solve problems past nine minutes. The moment he ran into Hrgovic, a seasoned professional who could absorb an explosive early flurry without disintegrating, the lack of mileage caught up to him.

Should Queensberry gamble? Absolutely. If Itauma is truly 21 with ambitions of ruling the division, he needs rounds under pressure, not soft touches. Feeding him another stationary target only reinforces the bad habits that doomed him against Hrgovic: swinging for the fences with every shot, neglecting the jab, and burning out his gas tank before the second half even starts.

Jack Catterall is watching Conor Benn turn a humiliating second-round demolition by Ryan Garcia into another multimillion-dollar lottery ticket with Chris Eubank Jr. Benn gets steamrolled, yet his marketability keeps the vault wide open.

Catterall does not sound bitter about the obvious imbalance, but nobody could blame him if he were furious. He spent years fighting Arnold Barboza Jr., Shakhram Giyasov and Josh Taylor. He collected the WBA Regular welterweight title without being handed a shortcut. Still, the biggest money flows toward hype rather than achievement.

“Conor’s a big name he’s a brilliant self promoter I don’t begrudge him getting his shot I’m sure he will fight eubank again next and make millions 👏,” said Jack Catterall on X. “Some fighters have to go the country route to a world fight I’m one of them but I’ve earned my shot and I want it next.”

That clapping emoji has the feel of sarcasm. Benn can get blasted out in Las Vegas, dust himself off, and headline another major British event because his family rivalry with Eubank sells without a belt attached.

Catterall has done everything asked of him, yet he must keep pressing his claim while WBA Super Champion Teofimo Lopez pursues more profitable opponents. It takes restraint to remain diplomatic when boxing repeatedly pays more for personality than performance. Catterall is making it clear that he will not quietly surrender the opportunity he earned.

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Last Updated on 2026/09/13 at 8:14 PM