Itauma Targets IBF Title in 15th Fight to Eclipse Joshua’s Championship Pace

Moses Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) aims to win the IBF heavyweight title in his 15th professional bout, one fight faster than Anthony Joshua.

Moses Itauma enters Saturday's IBF heavyweight title bout against Filip Hrgovic with a professional record of 14-0 including 12 knockouts. If victorious at the O2 Arena, the 21-year-old Slovakian-born fighter will become the second-youngest world heavyweight champion at 21 years and 244 days old, trailing only Mike Tyson’s 1986 record. This achievement would occur in his 15th professional fight, surpassing Anthony Joshua’s 16-fight path to a title and Tyson Fury’s 24-fight journey. Only Leon Spinks (8), James J. Corbett (11), and James J. Jeffries (13) secured the heavyweight crown in fewer bouts.

Comparing the first 14 fights of both prospects reveals distinct statistical differences. Anthony Joshua maintained a 100% knockout ratio through 14 bouts, while Itauma holds an 85.7% knockout rate. However, Itauma has secured six first-round victories compared to Joshua’s five. Joshua was more efficient in the second round, totaling 12 wins within the first two frames, whereas Itauma has recorded 11 wins in that same span. By their 14th fights, Joshua had completed 25 total rounds of boxing, while Itauma has logged 31 rounds.

Level of Opposition and Ring Performance

Itauma’s recent victory over Jermaine Franklin saw the prospect stop the durable American in five rounds in March. In contrast, Anthony Joshua required the full 12-round distance to defeat Franklin in April 2023. For his 14th professional outing, Joshua faced Gary Cornish, a fighter who never reached world title contender status. Itauma also holds a first-round knockout victory over Dillian Whyte (31-4, 21 KOs), a feat that took Joshua seven rounds in 2015 and Tyson Fury six rounds in 2022.

Saturday's opponent, Filip Hrgovic, brings a 20-1 record with 15 knockouts and a 2016 Olympic bronze medal to the ring. At 34 years old, the Croatian represents a higher tier of competition than Charles Martin, whom Joshua defeated for the IBF belt. Martin, who lost via second-round knockout to a 26-year-old Joshua in 2015, has since lost five fights and never challenged for a world title again. Physically, Itauma weighed 242 pounds for his last contest, while Joshua stood two inches taller at 6-foot-6 and weighed 244 pounds for his first title fight.

Fighting Styles and Professional Background

Technical approaches vary significantly between the two heavyweights. Joshua utilizes an orthodox stance with a rigid, upright guard, often working behind a jab to study opponents. The southpaw Itauma employs a more fluid style, sometimes fighting with his hands down and relying on instincts to seek a knockout within minutes. While Joshua entered the professional ranks as a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and a household name, Itauma turned professional at age 18 as a relatively unknown prospect.

Financial Trajectory and Global Standing

Joshua’s commercial success has placed him eighth on the Sunday Times Rich List for sportspeople, with an estimated net worth of £240 million ($320 million). His earnings are bolstered by major sponsorship deals following a decade at the top of the division. While Itauma currently lacks the mainstream popularity Joshua possessed at the same career stage, he is reaching a world title shot five years sooner than his predecessor.

Historical data shows varied timelines for other champions: Vasiliy Lomachenko won a title in 3 fights, Naoya Inoue in 6, and Oleksandr Usyk in 10. Heavyweights like Lennox Lewis and David Haye required 23 and 21 fights respectively. Wladimir Klitschko took 36 bouts to reach the summit, while Saul "Canelo" Alvarez needed 37. Itauma, who moved from Slovakia to Kent at age four, now stands on the verge of joining this elite list significantly ahead of the modern heavyweight curve.