After talking to Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic before their fight for the vacant IBF heavyweight championship this weekend, it’s clear both fighters are supremely confident of getting their hands on the belt. In one corner, you have Itauma, an undefeated 21 year-old Brit tipped as the future of boxing’s glamor division. Opposite him stands a tough Croatian took reigning WBO champ Daniel Dubois into the eighth round before being halted due to cuts above both eyes. That loss in 2024 was followed by points victories over Joe Joyce and Daniel Adeleye, before Dave Allen was stopped in his tracks in the third round back in May. Despite racking up that hat-trick of wins, Hrgovic finds himself in the role of underdog ahead of the showdown at London’s O2 Arena.
Being in that position is unfamiliar territory for the 34-year-old — and it is one he is not overly enamored with. While Hrgovic respects his foe’s power and ability, he has labelled Moses a ‘kid’ and claimed opportunities have been presented to him on a plate. “He's a little b—h,” was the answer when I asked what he thought of his opponent. “That's what I think.”
Of course, verbal blows are routinely traded in the build-up to fights. There will likely be more to come as Saturday approaches but there is an edge to what Hrgovic says when he switches from jovial to serious. Traditionally, pugilists shake hands after sharing a ring together — and I’m sure it will be no different when all is said and done at the weekend. There can be no doubt, however, that Hrgovic is desperate to derail the momentum Moses has built when he attempts to become Croatia’s first-ever world heavyweight titleholder.
Despite his experience, a resilient chin and exceptional durability, everything points to Hrgovic facing a monumental task to get his hands on the gold. With 14 victories punctuated by 12 stoppages, Moses is the juggernaut many believe cannot be halted. Two-time undisputed heavyweight kingpin Oleksandr Usyk speaks highly of him, while Billy Joe Saunders believes his fellow Brit is the best the division has produced since Muhammad Ali.
It remains to be seen how Moses reacts when his chin is finally put to the test. As we know, boxing has a way of producing shock results, particularly when the big boys start throwing bombs. But it would take a brave man to bet against him becoming the youngest boxer since Mike Tyson to win a world heavyweight title. “He's a good fighter. He's got a good chin, respectable power, stamina,” Moses told me. “And obviously his highlight is his heart. So I know what I'm up against — but he doesn’t know what he's up against.”
