Itauma vs Hrgovic & Mayer vs Cameron: Heavyweights & Title Fights Preview

Moses Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic in a bid to become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson, while Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron meet in a unification clash at a major boxing double-header this weekend.

The vacant IBF heavyweight title will be on the line as 21-year-old British prospect Itauma, boasting a 14-0 record with 12 knockouts, takes on experienced Croatian contender Hrgovic (20-1). The London showdown at the O2 Arena follows Itauma’s impressive victories over Dillian Whyte and Jermaine Franklin last year. Meanwhile, in Birmingham, American champion Mayer (22-2) and British fighter Cameron (22-1) battle for the WBA, WBC, and WBO light-middleweight titles in a unification fight that could elevate one closer to undisputed status.

Itauma, mentored by promoter Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions, has been hailed as a future superstar since his amateur days. A win over Hrgovic would make him the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history, surpassing even the legendary Tyson’s record. The IBF title became vacant after Oleksandr Usyk moved to the undisputed category, with Itauma initially ordered to face Frank Sanchez before securing a more lucrative matchup against Hrgovic. Sanchez has since accepted a step-aside deal, keeping his title shot intact.

The undercard features British lightweight champion Caroline Dubois defending her WBC and WBO titles against Amelia Moore, alongside former three-weight world champion Terri Harper in action. Dubois, now 13-0-1, has flourished under Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the promotional group co-owned by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian that has significantly elevated women’s boxing. Her potential next targets include IBF champion Elif Nur Turhan and a possible rivalry with American Alycia Baumgardner.

The Mayer-Cameron bout marks a pivotal moment for both fighters. Cameron, fresh off a victory over Michaela Kotaskova to win the WBO title, has shown resilience since her split-decision loss to Katie Taylor in 2023. Mayer, a three-division world champion, is now fighting under MVP and seeks to consolidate her dominance in the division. The winner will control three of the four major belts, with only the IBF title held by Oshae Jones standing in the way of undisputed status.

Coverage of the evening begins with live text commentary at 19:30 BST on the BBC Sport website and app, followed by radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra at 21:00. The main events are scheduled to start around 22:00, with ringwalks expected shortly after. Fans can also follow fight week updates via the 5 Live Boxing podcast.

All timings are approximate and subject to change.

#Boxing #MosesItauma #FilipHrgovic #MikaelaMayer #ChantelleCameron #IBFHeavyweight #WBA #WBC #WBO