Itauma Respectful of Hrgović: 'He's Tough, It's Going to Be a Long Night'
Young Brit Moses Itauma is aware of the challenge awaiting him on August 29 in London, where he will face Filip Hrgović for the vacant IBF world heavyweight title.
Young Brit Moses Itauma is aware of the challenge awaiting him on August 29 in London, where he will face Filip Hrgović for the vacant IBF world heavyweight title.
Croatia's top boxer Filip Hrgović will face the biggest test of his career when he steps into the ring against Moses Itauma at the O2 Arena in London on August 29, 2026. The stakes are clear: the vacant IBF world heavyweight title.
Itauma, a 21-year-old British boxer, remains undefeated in the professional ranks. In 16 bouts, he has recorded as many wins, with 14 of those coming by knockout-a testament to his explosiveness and punching power. His promoters recognized his exceptional talent early on and carefully mapped out his path through the professional ranks, selecting opponents such as Agit Kabayel, Jermaine Franklin, Dan Garber, and Dillian Whyte.
However, it's worth noting that these fighters, despite their big names, were already past their prime when they faced Itauma. Hrgović, on the other hand, presents a completely different kind of challenge. The Croatian boxer enters the fight on a three-fight winning streak and is in his prime, having already fought for a world title once, losing to Daniel Dubois.
Despite the fact that the fight was later upgraded to a world title bout, Itauma insists it places no extra burden on him. "I didn't have any reaction. If I'm already fighting Hrgović and there's a chance it could be for the world title, I said, 'Throw the belt in the mix then.' I didn't have any special feeling about it. I was taking Hrgović seriously anyway, and now that it's for the world title, I still take him seriously. It's the same fight, isn't it?" Itauma stated.
The young Brit didn't hide his respect for the Croatian fighter, aware that he faces no easy task. "Hrgović is tough. It's going to be a long night, but I'll be fine," Itauma concluded, hinting that he expects a demanding bout but also believes in his own victory.