Whether it's on points or a finish inside the distance, Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs) believes he will reign supreme against Queensberry's rising star in an upgraded IBF world heavyweight title fight at London's O2 Arena later this month.

Given his impressive amateur pedigree and the schoolboy sparring stories that came with the territory, Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) was anointed the division's heir to the throne before turning professional in 2023.

Ring champion Oleksandr Usyk heaped praise on the 21-year-old southpaw as part of the DAZN broadcast from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to watch rival-turned-teammate Anthony Joshua's win over Kristian Prenga last month.

Hrgovic, who needed a career reset after an eighth-round stoppage defeat by Daniel Dubois in June 2024, acknowledges the youngster's athletic gifts but isn't particularly impressed yet given his own strength of schedule.

"I think he's not the biggest fight of my career, I've had much tougher tests in WSB, amateurs like a very young kid... lot of pressure on myself in many fights with [Zhilei] Zhang, Dubois, he's just a kid. Talented, quick but not the toughest opponent I've faced," he told Adam Smith in a face-off feature published by DAZN on Wednesday night.

Itauma maintained the belief he's being unfairly criticised for having not been chin-checked 'under the bright lights' yet, though Hrgovic bristled in response by insisting it's inevitable you will be tested tougher at world level.

"Without a good chin, you can't be great. You'll get hit in some points, you can't box for 20 years and not get hit. I fought Olympic, world champions, sparred everyone and was never on the ground. No-one has ever knocked me out, I don't think this guy will, the only problem that bothers me is if this eye [covering his left] opens again."

Hrgovic began brilliantly during a back-and-forth slugfest against Dubois, though was defensively porous against a hard-hitting puncher. He suffered cuts over both eyes and was stopped after referee John Latham took the ringside doctor's advice in the eighth frame.

The 34-year-old has since accumulated further scar tissue, with cuts over both eyes again a vulnerability during bruising 10-round wins over Joe Joyce on his return and later David Adeleye in 2025.