Moses Itauma takes first step to superstardom in eerily similar fashion to Anthony Joshua… but can surpass AJ’s legacy

MOSES ITAUMA will take his first step towards superstardom in eerily similar fashion to Anthony Joshua. But promoter Frank Warren reckons the 21-year-old British prodigy could end up surpassing even AJ’s iconic legacy. Anthony Joshua knocked out Charles Martin in 2016 to become IBF champion Credit: Getty Images – Getty Moses Itauma fights for the same IBF belt against Filip Hrgovic Credit: Getty Joshua knocked out Charles Martin in April 2016 to win the IBF title that night at the O2 Arena in his 16th bout. And now ten years on – in bout No15 – Itauma challenges for the same belt in the very same building against Filip Hrgovic. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! And Warren hopes August 29 will be the beginning of a career even greater than two-time heavyweight champ AJ’s. He said: “Well I hope it will be, although I do think that Hrgovic is a much better fighter than Charles Martin. “Although he had the belt, he also got the belt by default when Tyson vacated when he had his problems. “But yeah, it’s part of his journey, this is the journey. And it’s got to be four or five years in front of where AJ was at this particular time in his career fighting for a title. “That’s what we do as promoters and we invest in fighters that we believe in. And we’ve been investing in him since he was 16. “It’s not something overnight, he’s been with us now for coming up to his sixth year since he signed to be with us. And this has all been part of the plan. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring. The Gypsy King has beaten Mariusz Wach in his second fight of the year to set up a huge fight with Anthony Joshua And AJ did the same, knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a thrilling encounter – the Brit was knocked down twice in the opening round. Now fans are looking forward to Moses Itauma’s return for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August. Here’s all the big fights coming up… August Sat 15 – Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott – DAZN Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic - all the info Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic face off for the IBF heavyweight world title “And it’s a tough fight. Look, I hope he wins it, I believe he can win it. If he doesn’t, it’s part of his education. But I do believe he can win it.” Hall of Famer Warren agreed a deal for Cuban Frank Sanchez, 34, to step aside so Itauma could challenge Hrgovic, 34, for the vacant belt. But Itauma is now contractually obliged to fight Sanchez in what would be his first title defence should he beat Croatian Hrgovic. Warren said: “A deal was done with Sanchez and here we are. “We’ve got for Moses the opportunity to become the second youngest ever world heavyweight champion after Mike Tyson and certainly since the war, the second youngest fighter to win a world title after Naseem Hamed. So it ticks all the boxes.” Comment now