‘What I’ve Wanted,’ Moses Itauma About the Filip Hrgovic Fight

Moses Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) and Filip Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs) are all set to fight it out for the IBF heavyweight title at the O2 Arena on Saturday. With barely a few hours left before fight night, Itauma admitted on Thursday that he could not have asked for anything better.

Talking at their recent press conference, Itauma shed light on what he is looking forward to on fight night.

“I’m not trying to become the second youngest heavyweight champion of the world; I’m trying to beat Filip Hrgovic and become a heavyweight champion,” he said.

Itauma is coming into the clash with Hrgovic in arguably the best form of his young career, but also facing his biggest test by far. The 21-year-old recently stopped Jermaine Franklin in five rounds in his most recent outing and has spent much of this camp pushing his conditioning and intensity under Ben Davison.

On paper, Itauma has the tools to give Hrgovic serious problems. He is considerably faster and arguably more versatile than the 6-foot-6 Croatian, and he also possesses genuine heavyweight power. Experts have particularly praised his movement and composure, with former world champion Andy Lee describing his tactical sharpness and mental strength as exceptional for someone so young. Hrgovic, however, represents a completely different level of resistance.

The biggest question, therefore, isn’t whether Itauma has the talent to beat him; it is how he responds when the fight becomes difficult. To put things in perspective, he has demolished most of his opponents before reaching the later rounds, so nobody has yet seen him forced into a prolonged heavyweight war against an experienced, physically imposing opponent who refuses to fold.

Despite the challenge in front of him, Itauma is certainly looking forward to an explosive showdown.

“Second of all, listen, this fight is what I’ve wanted. I’ve asked Queensberry for so long. I think it’s a style matchup that I reckon I can thrive on, the pressure I can thrive on. Now, it’s just waiting until fight night,” he said.

“Send Him Back To High School”

Hrgovic, on the other hand, did not shy away from brutal insults or digs. In fact, he even felt that Itauma wasn’t mature enough to win on fight night.

“I just telling you facts. I’m not playing games. I just tell you what I think in the moment. Like I said, I’m not so smart to play these mind games. I think he’s a kid, he’s not mature enough,” he said. “I think I’m the man, I’m in much better age, much more experienced, and that’s it. No mind games. God willing, I’ll beat him. I’ll smash the kid on Saturday; I’ll send him back to high school.”

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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