Fight Week’s 5 Fights to Watch This Week: August 24–30
Itauma vs. Hrgovic, Mayer vs. Cameron and a pivotal UFC bantamweight showdown headline a loaded final weekend of August.
Another big week of combat sports is here, and this time boxing takes center stage.
The schedule features a heavyweight world championship fight in London, a major women’s boxing unification showdown in Birmingham, an all-Australian battle between unbeaten contenders and a heavyweight clash in Detroit.
MMA fans are not being left out, either. The UFC heads to Shanghai with a bantamweight main event that could have major implications for the division.
Here are Fight Week’s 5 Fights to Watch This Week.
1. Moses Itauma vs. Filip Hrgovic
Boxing — Vacant IBF Heavyweight World Championship
Saturday, August 29 — The O2, London
DAZN PPV
The biggest question surrounding Moses Itauma has been simple: How good is he?
We may finally get the answer Saturday.
The 21-year-old heavyweight sensation enters the biggest fight of his career with a perfect 14-0 record and 12 knockouts. Itauma has been one of boxing’s fastest-rising young stars, but Filip Hrgovic represents a major jump in competition.
Hrgovic enters at 20-1 with 15 knockouts and brings the experience of an Olympic medalist and proven heavyweight contender.
The stakes have also increased dramatically. What was originally announced as a major heavyweight matchup has now been upgraded to a fight for the vacant IBF heavyweight world championship.
That means Itauma has a chance to go from prospect to world champion in one night.
Hrgovic, however, is exactly the type of veteran who can ruin those plans. He is bigger, experienced and accustomed to fighting top-level heavyweights.
Why watch: Itauma has looked like boxing’s next heavyweight star. Saturday we find out whether he is already ready to become a world champion.
2. Mikaela Mayer vs. Chantelle Cameron
Boxing — WBA, WBC & WBO Super Welterweight World Championships
Saturday, August 29 — bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham, England
ESPN+ in the U.S. / Sky Sports in the U.K.
This may be the most evenly matched elite fight of the entire weekend.
Mikaela Mayer (22-2, 5 KOs) puts her WBA and WBC super welterweight championships on the line against Chantelle Cameron (22-1, 8 KOs), who brings the WBO title into the fight.
Three belts will be at stake, but the matchup is bigger than the hardware.
Mayer has become one of boxing’s most reliable big-fight performers, willing to travel, change weight classes and take difficult assignments. Cameron has built an equally impressive résumé and remains the only fighter to defeat Katie Taylor as a professional.
Both are experienced, aggressive and comfortable fighting at a high pace.
There may not be much room for either woman to give away rounds.
The Birmingham event also features a deep women’s boxing card, including Caroline Dubois vs. Amelia Moore, Reina Tellez vs. Jessica Barry and Terri Harper vs. Miranda Reyes.
Why watch: Two elite fighters, three world titles and a matchup that could determine the best woman at 154 pounds.
3. Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Song Yadong
MMA — UFC Bantamweight Main Event
Saturday, August 29 — Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai, China
Paramount+
The UFC bantamweight division remains one of the deepest in MMA, and Saturday’s main event could push one fighter much closer to a championship opportunity.
Umar Nurmagomedov enters ranked No. 3 by the UFC and remains one of the most difficult fighters in the division to solve.
Across the cage will be China’s Song Yadong, currently ranked No. 6 and coming off a victory earlier this year.
The matchup presents an obvious stylistic question.
Can Song keep the fight standing long enough to unleash his speed and power, or will Nurmagomedov’s wrestling and control take over?
Nurmagomedov is comfortable turning fights into technical grappling battles, while Song is at his most dangerous when he can dictate exchanges on the feet.
There is another factor: Shanghai.
Song will be fighting in front of a home crowd in China, giving the UFC main event an atmosphere that should feel very different from a typical Fight Night. The UFC has confirmed the bout as Saturday’s five-round main event, with the main card streaming on Paramount+.
Why watch: A classic grappler-versus-striker matchup with major consequences near the top of the UFC bantamweight division.
4. Nikita Tszyu vs. Ben Mahoney
Boxing — IBF Super Welterweight World Title Eliminator
Wednesday, August 26 — Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Australia
The weekend starts early.
Unbeaten Australian junior middleweights Nikita Tszyu and Ben Mahoney meet Wednesday in a fight that could push the winner toward a world championship opportunity.
Tszyu enters at 12-0 with 10 knockouts, while Mahoney brings a 17-0-1 record with nine knockouts.
That alone makes this one worth watching.
Tszyu has carried one of the most recognizable names in Australian boxing since turning professional, but he has steadily started creating an identity of his own. His aggressive style and punching power have made him one of Australia’s most interesting rising fighters.
Mahoney represents a legitimate threat to that unbeaten record.
The fight has been sanctioned as an IBF super welterweight world title eliminator, adding real consequences to an already attractive domestic matchup.
Why watch: Two unbeaten fighters, national bragging rights and a potential world-title opportunity waiting for the winner.
5. Brandon Moore vs. Bryant Jennings
Boxing — Heavyweight Bout
Saturday, August 29 — Fox Theatre, Detroit
Wynn Records Network
Saturday’s Detroit card may not receive the attention of the massive events overseas, but there is plenty for Fight Week readers to watch.
Heavyweight contender Brandon Moore (19-1, 10 KOs) faces former world title challenger Bryant Jennings (27-4, 15 KOs) in an intriguing crossroads fight.
Moore has won five straight since suffering his lone professional defeat against Richard Torrez Jr. in 2024 and is looking to continue moving up the heavyweight rankings.
Jennings provides exactly the type of veteran test Moore needs.
The Philadelphia heavyweight challenged Wladimir Klitschko for the heavyweight championship in 2015 and has shared the ring with several notable names during his career.
But the Detroit card offers more than the heavyweights.
Undefeated lightweight prospect Jonny Mansour faces unbeaten Richard Segura in the co-main event, while highly regarded former amateur standout JuJu Ballo is also scheduled to compete.
The card will stream on Wynn Records Network beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Why watch: Moore gets an experienced heavyweight test, while Mansour and Ballo give Fight Week readers two prospects worth tracking.
Fight Week’s Must-Watch Fight
There are several strong choices this week, but Moses Itauma vs. Filip Hrgovic gets the top spot.
For months, Itauma has been discussed as the future of heavyweight boxing.
On Saturday, the future could arrive much sooner than expected.
At only 21 years old, Itauma has an opportunity to capture the vacant IBF heavyweight championship and immediately become one of the most important fighters in the division. Hrgovic, however, is easily the toughest and most experienced opponent Itauma has faced.
That combination of youth, experience, risk and championship stakes makes it Fight Week’s must-watch fight.
Mayer vs. Cameron is a very close second. On pure competitive balance, it could actually turn out to be the best fight of the week.
And MMA fans should make an early appointment for Nurmagomedov vs. Song. With both men positioned near the top of the UFC bantamweight rankings, Saturday’s result could have championship implications heading into the final months of 2026.
From Australia on Wednesday to London, Birmingham, Shanghai and Detroit on Saturday, there is no shortage of action.
Fight Week will be following the biggest boxing and MMA stories all week.
