Will Moses Itauma Get “Bakole’d” on Saturday?

Britain’s 21-year-old heavyweight phenom stands on the verge of history. But before Moses Itauma can become a world champion, he must deal with one enormous, heavy-handed and battle-tested Croatian.

Article by Joseph Herron of War A Week Boxing

There is an old saying in boxing:

Don’t get too high on a prospect until you see how well he can take a punch.

Especially when discussing the heavyweights.

On Saturday night, the sold-out O2 Arena in London will witness one of the most intriguing heavyweight championship fights of the year when Britain’s Moses Itauma meets Croatia’s Filip Hrgović for the vacant IBF heavyweight championship. The fight will be available worldwide on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

At just 21 years of age, Itauma has become one of the most talked-about young fighters in boxing.

The undefeated phenom from Kent has compiled a perfect 14–0 record with 12 knockouts, and his combination of speed, athleticism, technical ability and genuine heavyweight power has made him one of the sport’s most exciting prospects.

Now, he is one victory away from something extraordinary.

If Itauma defeats Hrgović, he will become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson accomplished the feat in 1986. That would place the young Briton in exceptionally rare company and transform him overnight from one of boxing’s brightest prospects into a legitimate heavyweight champion.

But before the history can be written, there is a very large obstacle standing in his way.

Filip Hrgović.

And perhaps the most interesting thing about Hrgović isn’t simply his size or his power.

It’s his durability.

The Croatian Olympic bronze medalist has spent years competing at the highest levels of the heavyweight division. At 20–1 with 15 knockouts, his only professional defeat came against Daniel Dubois in 2024, and he has since returned with three consecutive victories.

Hrgović possesses the kind of granite chin that allows a heavyweight to remain dangerous even when the fight becomes difficult.

He also carries heavy hands.

Very heavy hands.

And in heavyweight boxing, that combination can make even the most promising prospect reconsider everything he thought he knew about himself.

Just ask Jared “Big Baby” Anderson.

Not long ago, Anderson was considered one of America’s brightest heavyweight prospects. He entered his August 2024 showdown with Martin Bakole undefeated at 17–0 and was widely viewed as one of the country’s best hopes for future heavyweight stardom.

Then the bell rang.

Bakole dropped Anderson in the opening round.

And although Anderson fought back courageously, Bakole’s size, physical strength and punishing power eventually overwhelmed him. The referee stopped the contest at 2:07 of the fifth round, ending Anderson’s undefeated record in brutal fashion.

That night served as another reminder of what makes heavyweight boxing different from every other division.

Everything can change with one punch.

The comparison isn’t meant to suggest that Itauma is Anderson or that Hrgović is Bakole.

Every fighter writes his own story.

But there is an unmistakable parallel.

A young, undefeated heavyweight phenom.

Enormous expectations.

A rapidly growing reputation.

A world championship within reach.

And standing across the ring, a massive, experienced heavyweight with heavy hands and proven durability.

That is what makes Saturday night so fascinating.

Because Itauma appears to have almost every physical gift a young heavyweight could ask for.

His speed is exceptional.

His reflexes are impressive.

His footwork allows him to move fluidly in and out of range.

His hands are exceptionally fast for a man his size.

And when he connects, opponents have discovered that the punches carry legitimate heavyweight consequences.

But there is one question that cannot be answered by watching highlights.

What happens when someone lands cleanly on Moses Itauma?

Hrgović is perfectly capable of asking that question.

And unlike many of Itauma’s previous opponents, the Croatian has the experience, size and durability to remain in the fight long enough to potentially make Itauma answer it.

That’s where the intrigue begins.

Itauma is trying to become a champion.

Hrgović is trying to stop a phenomenon.

The young Briton has history waiting for him.

The Croatian has years of experience waiting to be unleashed.

And neither man has any intention of allowing the other to dictate how Saturday night unfolds.

Hrgović has already made it clear that he believes his experience will matter. Itauma, meanwhile, has shown little interest in being distracted by the Croatian’s verbal games and appears remarkably composed heading into the biggest fight of his young career.

That composure may ultimately prove just as important as his physical gifts.

Because this isn’t a test of whether Moses Itauma is talented.

Everyone already knows the answer to that.

It’s a test of whether all that talent can withstand the reality of heavyweight championship boxing.

And that’s where the memory of Jared Anderson and Martin Bakole becomes impossible to ignore.

Anderson was supposed to be the future.

Then Bakole arrived.

Now Itauma stands at the same crossroads.

Perhaps Itauma will prove that the hype is justified.

Perhaps his speed will be too much.

Perhaps his footwork will keep Hrgović from ever finding the target consistently.

Perhaps the young phenom will walk out of the O2 Arena with the IBF championship and a place in heavyweight history.

Or perhaps Filip Hrgović will remind everyone why boxing remains the most unpredictable sport in the world.

Because eventually, every prospect must answer the same question.

Not how fast he is.

Not how hard he punches.

Not how spectacular he looks against an opponent who cannot match his physical gifts.

But something much simpler.

How well can he take a punch?

Jared Anderson found out against Martin Bakole.

On Saturday night, Moses Itauma gets his opportunity to provide his own answer.

So, as the heavyweight championship approaches and the boxing world prepares for another potentially historic night in London, there is only one question left to ask: