Itauma rebukes Hrgovic ahead of IBF world heavyweight title fight at O2 on Saturday night
Moses Itauma hit back at Filip Hrgovic’s taunts as the two prepare to contest the IBF world heavyweight title at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night, with Itauma also in line to become the second-youngest world heavyweight champion after Mike Tyson if he wins. Itauma said Hrgovic’s comments were getting under his skin and rejected the Croatian’s warning that claiming the belt would “ruin his soul.”
Itauma responded to Hrgovic’s description of him as a “delusional kid” by saying: “I tell myself there’s nothing that this Hrgovic guy can do to get in my head but he’s starting to wind me up.” He recounted an earlier remark attributed to Hrgovic — “apparently he said I wake up and I just hug trees” — and added: “He’s really starting to annoy me.” Hrgovic had warned that winning the world title would harm Itauma’s character, saying: “He’s a kid. He’s inexperienced. So, for him, it would be best to lose this fight because it’s going to ruin him, winning the world title. He’s already in the clouds. He’s already delusional. And it can ruin someone who’s not ready for that kind of fame, that kind of money.”
Itauma characterised Hrgovic as a habitual provocateur, noting past pre-fight remarks: “In my mind if somebody’s trying to get one up on you, or trying to get in your head, it’s because they’re not confident in themselves. Obviously Hrgovic is a talker. Before fights, he’s always said certain things – like he did to [Daniel] Dubois when he said he sees big muscles but not big balls. Then you see Dubois, in his mind, is raging. So Hrgovic has always been a talker. It’s just because English ain’t his first language that people don’t pay attention.”
On whether Hrgovic’s caution about early success had merit, Itauma conceded some understanding of the warning while rejecting it as a reason to avoid victory: “Although it’s been annoying me, I hear that because I already know the level of success I’ve achieved and how I’m coping. I’ve always said I never wanted to be at Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury level because I know how annoyed I get trying to be a normal person. Now I can’t imagine being at a level of Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua. But, at the same time, if I’m going down this path, I don’t have a choice.”
Asked directly whether capturing a world title so young would be bad for his “soul”, Itauma replied: “I wouldn’t say he has a point but 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.”
Hrgovic explained why he labelled Itauma delusional, saying: “He went from youth level to professional, had a few fights and became a star. Everyone is clapping him on his back – [saying] you’re the best, you’re the next Muhammad Ali. You’re the new Mike Tyson. He’s just not, in reality. I’m very grateful for all the hard things I went through. It makes you a different person.” The 34-year-old Hrgovic, who has lost just once in a professional career stretching across nine years, stressed his experience and stability ahead of the contest.
Describing his mindset, Hrgovic added: “I’m in a much different position because of that experience, and the ups and downs in my life. I’m like a rock. Stable. Nothing can move me. I don’t care about fame. I don’t care about money. I don’t care about what people think.” He concluded his build-up with: “But we’ll see on Saturday.”
The two fighters meet at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night for the IBF world heavyweight title, with the bout set to determine whether Itauma will become only the second-youngest holder of the belt after Mike Tyson.