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.
Advertisement
“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.
Advertisement
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.
Read the full article here
