Filip Hrgovic has vowed to “smash” Moses Itauma and send him “back to high school” when the pair meet for the vacant IBF heavyweight title at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, as former world champion Prince Naseem Hamed backed the 21-year-old Briton to reach the top of the division.
Itauma is unbeaten in 14 professional contests and has stopped 12 opponents, with victory over Hrgovic set to make him the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in boxing history behind Mike Tyson. The Croatian, an Olympic bronze medallist whose only professional defeat came against Daniel Dubois in 2024, has repeatedly referred to Itauma as a “kid” during the build-up.
“I just tell you what I think. I think he’s a kid, he’s not mature enough. I think I’m the man. I’m a much better age, much more experienced. That’s it,” said Hrgovic, according to BBC Sport. “I will smash the kid on Saturday and I’ll send him back to high school.”
Itauma declined to become involved in a verbal exchange at Thursday’s news conference and instead maintained his focus on the contest. “At the end of the day, talk is cheap. It’s schoolboy banter,” said Itauma. “Me standing in front of a camera and microphone, saying what I’m going to do, doesn’t mean much. I’m not trying to engage in any back and forth. My eyes are solely on Saturday.”
PHamed, meanwhile, offered a glowing assessment of the unbeaten heavyweight, saying: “I can’t compare Moses. He is a million times better than them,” according to BBC Sport, after discussing former champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Victory on Saturday would see Itauma claim his first world title in his 15th professional fight and become heavyweight champion at 21 years and 244 days, behind only Tyson, who won the WBC title at 20 years and 145 days in 1986. “I’m not trying to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion of the world. I’m trying to beat Filip Hrgovic and become world heavyweight champion,” said Itauma.
Hrgovic enters the contest with considerably more professional and amateur experience, having competed in 21 professional bouts and won an Olympic bronze medal before turning professional. Hamed, however, expects Itauma to overcome that experience and establish himself at world level. “On paper it’s a test but I don’t think the night that we watch it it will be a test,” said Hamed. “I think it’s going to be one of Moses’ easiest nights of his career and he’ll win a world title.”
