Eddie Hearn believes Moses Itauma’s true introduction to world level will not come against Filip Hrgovic, but rather a savvy veteran who has recently restored his ‘bogeyman’ reputation.

Most would agree, however, that Hrgovic represents the 21-year-old’s toughest opponent thus far, with the Croatian’s only defeat arriving against Daniel Dubois in 2024.

Back then, ‘El Animal’ gave a commendable effort – and had arguably built a slight lead – but was ultimately stopped on cuts in round eight of their encounter.

Many would therefore consider him a top 10 heavyweight, yet Hrgovic has nonetheless been made a sizable underdog against the promising and unbeaten Itauma.

If he defeats the 34-year-old at London’s O2 Arena tomorrow evening, Itauma will become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson dethroned Trevor Berbick in 1986.

By claiming the vacant IBF title, though, Itauma would then be ordered to face mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, who comes off a second-round finish over Richard Torrez Jr in May.

‘The Cuban Flash’ also unanimously outpointed Efe Ajagba in 2021, with his only defeat coming via a seventh-round knockout against Agit Kabayel in 2024.

But even so, Matchroom promoter Hearn has told DAZN that, stylistically, Sanchez could present Itauma with a greater challenge than Hrgovic.

“The [opponent] that’s actually a bit more difficult for Moses, that he will have to fight, is Frank Sanchez. He’s old [34]but it’s the style – his reflexes, although he’s old, are still [pronounced].

“He wilted against Kabayel. I think he had a bad knee but, when it’s on top, Sanchez [doesn’t respond well]. But, early on, he’s sharp.”

Frank Sanchez is a problem for Moses if he gets through Hrgovic, say @EddieHearn & @TonyBellew 👀

🎟️ Buy #MosesHrgovic NOW at https://t.co/yxybEeo0Px | Aug 29 | Watch only on DAZN pic.twitter.com/s7jPfCgGGf

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 26, 2026

With Kabayel having since become the WBC world champion, Sanchez’ sole defeat does not appear quite so severe.

Recent training footage of Terence Crawford has sparked rumours that the pound-for-pound superstar could be planning a comeback. Fellow former welterweight champion Shawn Porter has now weighed in.

Crawford and Porter fought back in 2021 in what turned out to be Porter’s final bout, with ‘Bud’ defending his WBO title via round 10 stoppage and then continuing his welterweight KO streak in clashes with David Avanesyan and Errol Spence Jr to claim the undisputed title at 147lbs.

The Omaha southpaw then got his hands on super-welterweight world honours with a triumph over Israil Madrimov, before the crowning moment of his career – an undisputed super-middleweight title win against Canelo Alvarez.

The undefeated sensation hung up the gloves just three months later, but footage of him back in the gym has led fans to believe that Crawford could soon return.

However, in an interview with About BoxingPorter all but shut down those suggestions, revealing that Crawford’s retirement plans were in place long before his triumph over Canelo and that his decision was not made without serious thought.

“Without saying too much, I will say that I don’t think he is going to come back. I don’t want to say that I know he is not going to come back because I feel like that is saying too much, but we have had our conversations a long time before he even fought Canelo Alvarez.

“We have had conversations over the years and I knew that time was coming after that Canelo fight, what else do you want to do?”

Instead, it is understood that Crawford’s return to the gym was done to aid stablemate Lester Martinezwho takes on Luka Plantic on Saturday in an attempted second defence of his WBC Interim super-middleweight title.

Teofimo Lopez became a three-division world champion as he dethroned Rolando Romero to capture the WBA welterweight title last week, but fellow welterweight world champion Ryan Garcia has admitted that he disagrees with the result of the fight.

Lopez boxed on the front foot and appeared to dominate the majority of the proceedings at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday. The judges ultimately awarded ‘The Takeover’ a majority-decision victory, although most felt he had done enough to win by a wider margin. The victory sets up a host of blockbuster fights for Lopez.

One of those potential dust-up’s is a unification against WBC welterweight ruler, Garcia, who Lopez has openly revealed is the targeted opponent for his next outing.

Speaking with FightHypeGarcia analysed Lopez’s display against Romero and declared that he believes a draw would have been the correct outcome.

“He did [hurt Teofimo]. We were watching it, it was pretty good, none of them really made it clear [who won]for me, [in terms of] like domination.

“I told my Dad, if you are going to give it to anybody you have got to give it to Teo for pushing the action, but in my honest opinion it felt like a draw, just from a boxers perspective.

“Nobody really put their dominance on it, then all of these people that think they know about boxing, but they don’t know s**t, are saying ‘Teo won so easily,’ – no, the f**k he didn’t.

“He [Teo] didn’t even touch him, really. Rolly’s face was clean, Teofimo looked like he got jumped and s**t.”

Before Garcia-Lopez can be made, Garcia must first defend his WBC crown against Conor Benn in an intriguing clash in two weeks’ time.