Moses Itauma labeled ‘delusional’ by Filip Hrgovic as first world title edges nearer
Filip Hrgovic has accused Moses Itauma of being “delusional” ahead of their world title fight on Saturday, as they prepare to vie for the IBF heavyweight belt.
Hrgovic, 34, and the unbeaten Itauma, 21, will headline at London’s O2 Arena, with each man fighting for a full world title for the first time; in 2024, Hrgovic suffered his sole professional loss when he was stopped by Daniel Dubois in an interim-title fight.
Still, the Croatian is seen as a genuine test for Itauma, who blitzed past Dillian Whyte and Jermaine Franklin in his two most-recent bouts.
“I think for him, it would be best for him to lose this fight, because it can ruin him to win a world title so young,” Hrgovic told reporters on Tuesday.
“His head is already in the clouds, he’s already delusional, and I think it can ruin someone who’s not ready for that kind of fame, that kind of money. It can ruin your soul, it can make you lose yourself.
“We have seen a lot of superstars, a lot of famous people lose themselves. They just get lost in that world of fame and money. I don’t think he’s ready for that. For him, it would be best for him to lose this fight, man, to save his soul.
“What does it mean to achieve everything if you lose your soul and lose yourself? I think I’m in a much different position because of the experiences I went through, the ups and downs in my life. I’m in a different position. I think I’m like a rock, stable, and nothing can move me. I don’t care about fame, money, or what people think. But we will see on Saturday.”
Since losing to Dubois, when the fight was stopped due to a nasty cut on Hrgovic’s face, the Croatian has gone 3-0. All three of his wins have come against British heavyweights: Joe Joyce, David Adeleye and Dave Allen.
Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs) added: “[Itauma] doesn’t really know what’s coming to him. I noticed that when I saw him last time; I saw that kid. It’s no offence to him, but I just saw that kid, that young man inside of him. But we were all stupid when we were young.
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“You just can’t buy experience. I’m not just talking about boxing, but I saw that kid in his eyes, in his behaviour, and in his attitude. We’ve all been like that, but I just don’t think he’s aware of a lot of things, he’s not been through a lot of things. He’s just young.
“He’s a kid and everything has gone well, he hasn’t had any hard times. He went from youth level to professional, and everyone is patting him on the back telling him he’s the best – he’s the ‘next Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson’. He’s just not in reality.”
Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) has been viewed as a potential future world champion since he was a teenager. Last time out, in March, he became the first fighter to stop Franklin, seven months after knocking out Whyte inside two minutes.
