Filip Hrgovic Not Too Worried About Moses Itauma

The IBF heavyweight title showdown between Filip Hrgovic (18–1, 14 KO) and Moses Itauma (14–0, 12 KO) is barely a few weeks away. Is Hrgovic worried about the upcoming matchup? If his words are to go by, not one bit.

At their recent face-off, Hrgovic’s comments about his opponent did not seem very promising, to put it bluntly.

“I think he’s not the biggest fight of my career; I’ve had much tougher tests in WSB, amateurs like a very young kid, a lot of pressure on myself in many fights with Zhang, Dubois; he’s just a kid. Talented, quick, but not the toughest opponent I’ve faced,” he said.

Hrgović’s assessment is actually interesting because he seems to recognize that Itauma presents a very different kind of problem from the guys he has fought before. It isn’t necessarily that he thinks Itauma is already the most accomplished opponent on his résumé, it’s that he has traditionally been a fairly methodical heavyweight who likes to establish himself, and he has admitted that he is normally a slow starter. Against Itauma, however, he has specifically said he plans to start much faster because Itauma himself starts quickly and he doesn’t want to let the younger man dictate the pace.

Hrgović may actually be one of the first opponents capable of giving Itauma a completely different experience. The latter has been stopping opponents before they can really establish a rhythm. Hrgović, who is comfortable taking punishment, is dangerous enough that Itauma can’t simply walk forward without consequences. Even Adam Booth, while identifying defensive weaknesses in Hrgović, called his right hand a major threat and described this as Itauma’s toughest examination so far.

“You didn’t have any elite amateur fights, right? Straight from youth level to professional boxing, and he’s fought no one in pro boxing. Of course, he doesn’t have experience, but we don’t know how good he is. Dillian Whyte was over the hill, everyone knows that. Jermaine Franklin came totally unprepared, over the hill and old already,” he added.

“Best Opponent He’s Faced”

On the other hand, Hrgovic is certain that he is one of the (if not the) most challenging fighters that Itauma has faced.

“I think I’m the best opponent he’s faced. I think he’s never been until now in the ring with someone like me, with that kind of experience and endurance, toughness, power. So let’s see how good he is. Everyone says he’s a future superstar, future Lennox Lewis,” he said.

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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