The pair were already scheduled to meet at London’s 02 Arena in the main event of a Queensberry Promotions show live on DAZN pay-per-view.

And now Queensberry have confirmed the IBF have sanctioned the clash for their heavyweight title, which was vacated by Ring Magazine champion Oleksandr Usyk in June.

The IBF had initially ordered Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) and Frank Sanchez (26-1, 19 KOs) to fight for the belt on June 30, given the Cuban was No. 1 in their rankings while the young Englishman sat third. Yet two weeks prior, Itauma-Hrgovic was already agreed and the fight's inaugural press conference took place on June 22.

Queensberry chief Frank Warren confirmed to the BBC they had paid Sanchez a step-aside fee and the 34-year-old has agreed to face the winner in their first defense, as both men are under contract with the promotional outfit.

"We paid [Sanchez] some money. We said whoever wins the fight, you're not losing out and you'll get the opportunity to fight for the title against the winner," the Hall of Fame promoter said.

The fight will represent a first world title shot for both men. Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs) is The Ring's No. 5-rated contender while Itauma sits one place below him.

The fight also offers Itauma the chance to become history’s second youngest world heavyweight champion.

Mike Tyson, who won his first world title aged 20 years and four months, holds the record but Floyd Patterson is in second having beaten Archie Moore to win the title in 1956 aged 21 years and 10 months.

But Itauma will knock Patterson into third with a victory, as he will be 21 years, eight months and one day old when his Hrgovic contest rolls around later this month.

"We signed him when he was 16. He was an amateur, we sponsored him and he turned professional with us. He's been amazing and sort of taken the world by storm. This is a big moment for him, but I'm confident he can do it," Warren added.

The undefeated southpaw has been made a wide favorite against his Croatian opponent. Most bookmakers have priced him at 1/6 (-600) while underdog Hrgovic is out at 7/1 (+700).