A tetchy Filip Hrgovic questioned British heavyweight Moses Itauma’s sacrifices to the sport and said his opponent has been handed opportunities on a “plate” during a surprisingly tense news conference in London.
Itauma, widely considered the future of the division, will face the experienced Croatian in his toughest test to date at London’s O2 Arena on 29 August.
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The 21-year-old has won all 14 of his professional bouts, 12 inside the distance, but Hrgovic questioned the Chatham fighter’s rise to boxing’s top table.
“He was given everything on the plate when I compare his path with my path and other guys who are coming from small countries,” Hrgovic said, passionately detailing his struggles as an amateur and lack of support and promotion.
“I think my path was much harder, much, much harder. I worked so hard to get into position. I think everything he achieved was given.”
Itauma, who dismantled the durable Jermaine Franklin in March and is edging closer to a world-title shot, said he welcomed the energy and stayed generally composed with his responses.
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“Whether he thinks my path has been easy or not, it won’t do him any favours,” Itauma said.
“He’s almost 14 years older than me and we’re still in the same position. He doesn’t know anything about me to comment on that.
“At the end of the day the position I’m in wasn’t given to me. I still had to beat and overcome challenges.”
Itauma targets Dubois, Usyk or Kabayel
Both fighters are promoted by Queensberry Promotions and a win could lead to a world-title shot next [Queensberry Promotions]
A win for Itauma could lead to an all-British world-title shot at Daniel Dubois next, if the WBO world champion wins a mooted rematch with Fabio Wardley.
Speaking to the 5 Live Boxing podcast earlier on Monday, Itauma said he is also targeting unified champion Oleksandr Usyk next, or a fight against German contender Agit Kabayel on away soil for a vacant title.
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But first he must come through Hrgovic, a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist who has won 20 professional fights and most recently stopped Briton Dave Allen in the third round in May.
“It’s my toughest fight. Filip Hrgovic is no mug,” Itauma said.
“Hrgovic has achieved so much in this sport. He’s beaten so many well-known guys, not just in British boxing but boxing in general. He’s won an Olympic bronze medal.
“The beautiful thing about my position is I can strip him away from all of that.”
But Hrgovic, whose only defeat came against Dubois in 2024, was less complimentary of his opponent.
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“I’m a fighter. I look at it from a different angle. I’ve never seen him in trouble. I’ve never seen him punched, get dropped,” he said.
“He’s definitely got speed and skills but to be a great fighter you must have hard will, chin and endurance.”
Billed as youth versus experience, the question of whether the pair respect each other was a theme throughout.
“Once that first punch lands, I’m sure he’ll respect me then,” Itauma said.
Despite the tension, Hrgovic and Itauma exchanged a handshake during a courteous face-off.
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