Frank Warren lays out Filip Hrgovic's world title plans following Croat's shock victory over Moses Itauma

Frank Warren expects recently crowned IBF heavyweight world champion Filip Hrgovic to make his first world title defence against Frank Sanchez in the new year.

The giant Croatian produced a monumental upset when he inflicted a first career defeat upon Moses Itauma last month, denying the young Briton the prestige of becoming the second youngest blue-riband division ruler in the sport's history.

Hrgovic was largely put to the sword by his Queensberry stablemate at London's O2 Arena, but managed to pick himself up off the canvas to stop his opponent with a flurry of devastating blows during a pulsating ninth round.

The victory proved the fourth fight in succession that the 34-year-old has beaten an English opponent having previously seen off Dave Allen, David Adeleye and Joe Joyce across the previous 18 months.

Speculation has been rife as to who the once-beaten Hrgovic would face next, although Warren has now confirmed that Cuban power-puncher Sanchez is currently positioned at the summit of the list.

"He won’t fight this year but he will fight early next year. We will get him out. At the moment, he is due to fight Sanchez," Warren tolf iFL TV at the weekend.

"That is what he signed up for, that is what the defence is and that is what we paid the guy [Sanchez] a lot of money to step aside for.

"If something else comes up then we will talk to Sanchez but that is where we are at and that is his contractual obligation."

It's understood Hrgovic is desperate to secure a Croatian homecoming for his maiden title defence, having now gone almost a decade without fighting on home soil.

The Zagreb-born fighter has recently gone on record lobbying for his next fight to be a world championship unification bout, however with Sanchez unlikely to be willing to accept another stepaside fee, Hrgovic may have to bide his time in his quest for further title opportunities.