Now, just four years later, Itauma has the chance to prove all those suggestions right when he takes on Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight title Saturday night at O2 Arena in London.

While Itauma’s journey to the top of the heavyweight mountain has been reasonably short, the 34-year-old Hrgovic has been working his way toward winning a world title since his next opponent was still in junior school.

The pair had agreed to meet each other Saturday before there was even a belt on the line. But when Oleksandr Usyk vacated his title and Frank Sanchez, then the No. 1 contender, agreed to step aside, the path was cleared for these two to clash for the greatest prize in sport.

Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs), The Ring’s No. 6-rated heavyweight, has not put a foot wrong since he turned professional on his 18th birthday in December 2022, though that is because none of his opponents to date have been able to make him do so. Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs), who sits one place above him in The Ring’s Top 10, believes he is the man who will not only test Itauma’s chin but burst his bubble completely.

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Moses Itauma: “I feel with every fight I have, I’m proving to them that I am capable of what they think I’m capable of. Of course, this fight is a step up, a big step up, and Hrgovic is my toughest opponent to date. I’m not shying away from that. The beautiful thing about boxing is Filip Hrgovic has done so much in boxing, he has achieved so much, but I get to take that away from him with one fight.”

Filip Hrgovic: “I think for him, it would be best for him to lose this fight because it can ruin him, to win a world title so young. His head is already in the clouds, he’s already delusional and I think it can ruin someone who’s not ready for that kind of fame, that kind of money. It can ruin your soul; it can make you lose yourself.”

Moses Itauma has been made a huge favorite, with some bookmakers pricing him at (-700). Prices for the more experienced Hrgovic range from 5/1 (+500) to as long as 7/1 (+700). The draw, which would keep the IBF belt vacant, is 35/1 (+3500).

The undercard Saturday night is absolutely stacked. In the show’s only other 12 rounder, “Moldovan Monster” Constantin Ursu (15-0, 6 KOs) makes the first defense of his British welterweight title against Northampton’s Ben Vaughan (12-2, 4 KOs).

At heavyweight, Guido Vianello (14-3-1, 12 KOs) faces Moses Jolly (12-0, 8 KOs) over eight and undefeated Albanian puncher Nelson Hysa (24-0, 22 KOs) takes on Thomas Narmo (14-0, 14 KOs) in a scheduled 10-rounder.

Former world lightweight challenger Sam Noakes (18-1, 16 KOs) and former WBO 135-pound champ Denys Berinchyk (19-1, 9 KOs) meet over 10 as well.

O2 Arena, London.

The main portion of this show will be streamed live by DAZN on pay-per-view, starting at 7 p.m. BST in the United Kingdom (£24.99) and 2 p.m. ET in the United States ($59.99). Subscribers to DAZN’s Ultimate plan, which costs £24.99 per month in the UK and $49.99 in the U.S., can view the Itauma-Hrgovic card for no additional charge.