Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic can’t wait to get their hands on each other. That much was clear to see at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-in.
Tensions have been rising between the pair throughout fight week for their IBF heavyweight title fight, and those tensions finally boiled over when Itauma and Hrgovic went face-to-face for the final time at Old Spitalfields Market in London.
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“I’m going to smash you,” Hrgovic told Itauma seconds into their staredown.
Itauma and Hrgovic then traded barbs in a heated, inaudible exchange. When the microphone was placed between the duo, Itauma could be heard telling the Croatian that he was “going to f*** [him] up.”
But tempers really flared seconds after their faceoff concluded.
Hrgovic was posturing for the cameras, striking a double biceps pose, when Itauma pushed him forward. Hrgovic lost his balance and fell off the stage.
When Hrgovic returned, a group of security guards attempted to separate him from Itauma, but their efforts were not hugely successful. Hrgovic managed to retaliate by striking Itauma in the face.
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The Brit reacted furiously and had to be restrained by security, with a free-for-all brawl almost breaking out between the teams.
Itauma is normally a reserved character, but Hrgovic has made it his mission to try and get in his head in the build-up to their DAZN pay-per-view headliner.
Hrgovic has taken aim at Itauma’s age, telling the heavyweight prodigy that he is a “little kid” and should “go back to school.” Itauma has kept his cool throughout fight week, but the 21-year-old finally snapped back on Friday.
Itauma will look to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history on Saturday at The O2 in London. Uncrowned will provide round-by-round coverage of the fight card.
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