Filip Hrgovic Win ‘Not Good For My Soul,’ Says Moses Itauma

Moses Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) is all set to fight it out for the IBF Heavyweight Championship against Filip Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs) on August 29 at the O2 Arena. But in a surprising turn of events, Itauma admittedly believes that winning the fight might not be in his best interest.

Talking to reporters at the roundtable, he agreed with Hrgovic’s claim that the win at a young age would set Itauma’s career up for failure.

“If I win this fight, it might not be good for my soul. I can hear that. But that’s not the reason why I’m just gonna go in there and not win, for the sake of my soul. That’s not a good idea,” he said.

The interesting part is that Hrgovic isn’t really saying “losing is good for your boxing career.” He’s making a broader argument about what happens to a 21-year-old person’s character and psychology when they suddenly become enormously successful. And Itauma, despite being irritated by Hrgovic, seems to understand exactly what he means.

Itauma didn’t simply dismiss him. He basically said, “I hear you.”

He acknowledged that becoming champion at 21 might not be good for his soul. A surprisingly mature answer, particularly because Hrgovic is obviously trying to get inside his head. Moreover, he has been perpetually about how he’s already conscious of how difficult fame can be.

“Although he’s been annoying me, that is one thing that I can say I hear, because I already know the level of success I’ve achieved, and I already know how I’m coping at the level I’m coping with,” he said.

“I Never Wanted To…”

In fact, he reiterated the statement he has made multiple times: that he does not wish to be at the level of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

“I’ve always said I never wanted to be at Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury level [of fame] because I know how annoyed I get trying to be a normal person. Now I can’t imagine being at the level of Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua, but at the same time, if I’m going the path I’m going, I don’t have a choice,” 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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