Itauma v Hrgovic - heavyweight world title fight predictions

Britain could person a caller heavyweight satellite champion connected Saturday erstwhile Moses Itauma faces Croatian Filip Hrgovic astatine London's O2 Arena for the vacant IBF title.

The 21-year-old Briton has won each 14 of his nonrecreational fights, 12 by stoppage, and has established himself arsenic 1 of the division's astir breathtaking young prospects.

A triumph would marque the Chatham combatant the youngest heavyweight satellite champion since Mike Tyson successful 1986.

But Hrgovic is simply a large measurement up. The experienced 34-year-old - a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist - has a grounds of 20 wins and 1 defeat, with 15 victories wrong the distance.

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Live substance commentary volition statesman astatine 19:30 connected the BBC Sport website and app.

BBC Sport spoke to figures from the boxing satellite to get their predictions for the bout.

"Hrgovic close present is perchance the champion combatant for him to face. On insubstantial it's a trial but I don't deliberation it volition beryllium a test. I don't deliberation Moses volition beryllium nether immoderate signifier of unit successful a combat similar this.

"I deliberation it's going to beryllium 1 of Moses' easiest nights of his vocation and he'll triumph a satellite title."

Prediction - Itauma

"I bash person Itauma arsenic the favourite. He is nary uncertainty a amended combatant but inactive unproven implicit the agelong distance. And deliberation radical are possibly conscionable forgetting conscionable however pugnacious Hrgovic is and however bully helium is astatine taking a shot.

"I tin spot Itauma blowing him distant aboriginal due to the fact that he's truthful close but I tin besides spot Hrgovic riding the tempest and it becoming a much hard combat successful the 2nd fractional for Itauma.

"But I inactive spot Moses coming retired connected top. Hrgovic cuts a batch and I tin spot this being stopped connected cuts due to the fact that Itauma volition deed him truthful often."

Prediction - Itauma

"It's a truly bully fight. It's a trial that Itauma has been needing for a while. Stylistically, it's precise interesting. I deliberation this combat volition beryllium truly hard oregon truly easy. I don't spot a mediate crushed wherever Itauma volition cruise and volition look large doing it.

"I deliberation helium either gets escaped of him wrong 3 rounds oregon this is the acerb trial we've each been waiting for.

"Hrgovic is brave and pugnacious but helium stands up gangly and is rather casual to hit. Itauma has got the full package. He's successful and retired of range, he's sharp. He's got the footwork and velocity of a cruiserweight and the powerfulness of a heavyweight.

"So I'll spell with Itauma wrong 3 rounds."

Prediction - Itauma

"I've said for a portion that I'd backmost Moses againt immoderate heavyweight connected the planet, different than Oleksandr Usyk. Going by Usyk's past show against Rico Verhoeven, I'd astir apt backmost Moses against him too.

"Hrgovic is technically bully and volition inquire Itauma a fewer much questions than erstwhile opponents. But ultimately, I deliberation the velocity and timing of Moses volition beryllium the difference.

"He volition get to him successful the sixth oregon seventh circular and halt him, with possibly a fewer knockdowns on the way."

Prediction - Itauma

"I favour Moses to get the win. I cognize Hrgovic volition travel prepared. He's crippled and not a pushover. He's coming to triumph a satellite title. So it won't beryllium a straightforward fight, but it volition beryllium a bully fight.

"I'm rooting for Moses truthful I accidental helium volition triumph by immoderate means necessary. Whether it's points, stoppage oregon adjacent a disqualification."

Prediction - Itauma

"I fancy Itauma to marque a connection with a stoppage mid to precocious rounds. I deliberation the cuts of Hrgovic whitethorn travel into play, but I besides deliberation Itauma volition instrumentality his time, find the gaps and past get the stoppage."

Prediction - Itauma

"Both men tin punch hard - expect fireworks connected Saturday. This is the acerb trial for Itauma. You person to favour the younger antheral due to the fact that of his southpaw speed, skill, IQ and the foundations look to beryllium determination for a immense vocation ahead.

"But Hrgovic has momentum and this is his accidental for a satellite rubric and helium volition permission nary chromatic unturned."

Prediction - Itauma

"I deliberation it's Itauma's clip and helium stops him. I deliberation helium volition beryllium excessively overmuch for a 34-year-old Hrgovic, who has ne'er truly pushed connected similar we expected him to.

"It could beryllium with crisp punches and helium knocks Hrgovic retired wrong 4 oregon 5 rounds, oregon helium stops him connected cuts a small spot aboriginal on. Hrgovic's tegument truly shreds and that's the information with Itauma's punches. His timing and accuracy is truly good.

"Hrgovic is precise tough, but helium tin beryllium 1 dimensional successful presumption of his feet coming forward. He's a spot cumbersome and helium leans backmost and is determination to beryllium hit.

"I deliberation Itauma volition adjacent the region truly good going guardant oregon dropping backmost with large devastating counter-punches arsenic he's retreating."

Prediction - Itauma

"As this combat gets person - and this ever happens with large fights - opinions change. My sentiment hasn't changed but it has decidedly got tighter.

"I inactive deliberation Itauma volition get this done but I'm not arsenic convinced arsenic I was 3 oregon 4 months ago. Hrgovic looks successful unthinkable shape. He's been grooming distant successful the mountains of Big Bear Lake successful California with Abel Sanchez.

"I bash deliberation Itauma gets it done betwixt rounds six and 8 and it's a stoppage connected cuts, but not without facing immoderate occupation first."

Prediction - Itauma

"This is, connected paper, a trial for Itauma. Hrgovic is big, beardown and his resume is acold stronger.

"But still, are we allowed to imagination astir a young heavyweight who could alteration the landscape? I deliberation we should.

"Itauma has the speed, agility, and the thought process of his enactment is what sets him isolated from different heavyweights close now.

"I truly powerfully judge helium volition bash a occupation connected Saturday. I deliberation helium volition beryllium awesome and deterioration down a truly robust and physically pugnacious Hrgovic.

"I deliberation Itauma wins wrong six rounds."

Prediction - Itauma