So far, Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) has looked every inch the future champion but on August 29, the 21-year-old from Kent will face the sternest examination yet of his credentials when he takes on the experienced, dangerous and extremely confident Filip Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs).

Itauma and his team initially targeted a fight with the 34-year-old Croatian late last year and he made point of calling Hrgovic’s name after his impressive fifth-round stoppage of Jermaine Franklin in March.

The Ring’s No. 6-ranked heavyweight now gets his wish. The two will meet at London’s O2 Arena in a fight that will go a long way to setting the future course of the heavyweight division.

Frank Warren promotes both fighters and he knows just how big a task Itauma faces.

“Well, it's a big step up for him. He's still 21 and he's going in with a guy that a lot of people have avoided over the years, Hrgovic, who's a tough guy,” Warren said during DAZN’s broadcast of Ryan Garner’s victory over Michael Magnesi on Saturday.

“He can punch. He's never been knocked out and this is going to be a telling moment for him.”

Much of the build-up will focus on how Itauma handles the toughest test of his still young career but Hrgovic himself was once touted as the future of the heavyweight division.

After claiming a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics, it was assumed that he would quickly work his way up the heavyweight rankings and compete with the likes of Joshua, Fury and Wilder.

Hrgovic, ranked at No. 5 by The Ring, has shown flashes of his undoubted ability over the past decade but he has also flattered to deceive.

He has reeled off three consecutive wins since cuts brought an early end to a June 2024 fight with Daniel Dubois and while Hrgovic isn’t the type of character to lose faith in his own ability, there is a definite feeling that he goes into a fight with Itauma with a renewed sense of momentum.

While others have edged quietly away from the challenge of facing the young prodigy, Hrgovic ran towards it.

“It's a fight that I'm looking forward to because I think it will be a really good quality fight,” Warren said.

“He fancies it, Hrgovic, and you've got to take your hat off to him. He's putting it all on the line against the young star of today and maybe the biggest star tomorrow.

“This is a tough, tough fight for both of them and there's a lot on the line and, for me, that has all the ingredients to make is something extra, extra special and exciting.”