The 12-round fight will be streamed exclusively on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

A string of impressive finishes have helped 21-year-old Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) quickly establish himself as the most exciting talent in the heavyweight division but, so far, his reputation has been built against fringe contenders and faded names.

Hrgovic is neither.

At Monday’s launch press conference in London, the 34-year-old Croatian repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of Itauma’s rise.

“I respect all my opponents and all fighters but the way I see it, it’s like he went from winning the Youth World Championship - which I won as well - and in like 10 to 14 fights he become like a superstar,” Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs) said.

“I feel like he got it all on the table. He didn't sacrifice a lot for where he is now. I think my path was much harder. Much, much harder.

“I worked so hard to get into this position and I feel like everything what he achieved was given. Of course, he’s working hard. He's training every day, but it's not the same kind of struggle what I went through.

“I respect my path much more than his but we'll see on August 29. How good is he? Maybe he's a real deal. Maybe he's not. We’ll see.”

To Itauma’s credit he has always spoken of his need and desire to face the right men at the right time and answer any questions that hang over his head.

He sits at No. 6 in The Ring rankings and at No. 1 with the WBO and WBA and could have waited for his name to be called but he has actively sought out a fight with Hrgovic as he makes a rapid but considered rise through the heavyweight division.

“Whether he thinks my path is going to be easy or not, it don't do me no favors at the end of the day. He's 14 years older than me and we're still in the same position. He don't know nothing about me to comment on that,” Itauma said.

“At the end of the day, the position I'm in wasn't given to me. I still had to beat and overcome challenges. Even if he's not going to respect me or the path, we should soon find out.”

While he may not agree with Hrgovic’s assessment of his own career, Itauma did acknowledge that the fight represents something of an acid test.

“This is a big test. It's my toughest fight,” he admitted. “Filip Hrgovic ain't no mug. I think the beautiful thing about boxing is that Hrgovic has achieved so much in this sport. He's beaten so many well-known guys in not just British boxing but in boxing in general and he's won an Olympic bronze medal.

“I guess the beautiful thing about my position is I can strip him away from all of that. When it comes to the day, I shall be ready.”

Hrgovic won that Olympic bronze medal back in 2016 and is firmly entrenched at No. 5 in The Ring’s heavyweight rankings.

He also carries himself with an unshakeable confidence and will be the first man Itauma has ever faced who will duck between the ropes with full belief that he is going to win.

Whereas other top contenders have distanced themselves from a fight with Itauma, Hrgovic leapt at the chance to take on a fighter he has repeatedly referred to as “a kid."

“I'm not impressed the way the whole whole world is,” he said.

“I’m a fighter. I look at different angles. I never see him in trouble. I never see him get punched or get dropped. He’s definitely got skills and speed but to be to be great fighter you must have heart, will, chin, endurance and we didn't see that yet.

“Maybe he got all of that but maybe not so I definitely think I will test that. I will test if he is the real deal or not. I believe that I will beat this guy and I'll become a heavyweight champion of the world.”

If Itauma struggles with the burden of expectation that has been placed on his shoulders, he hides it well. He refused to rise to Hrgovic’s jibes and answered in his usual thoughtful manner.

As for what will happen on August 29, he promised to meet Hrgovic’s passion and fire with cool, controlled aggression.

“It’s gonna be an interesting fight,” he said calmly. "It’s where youth meets experience and intelligence meets heart.”