Filip Hrgovic is Highly Confident He Can Beat Moses Ituma

Filip Hrgovic has heard the hype. Now he intends to stop it.

When the Croatian contender steps into the ring against unbeaten heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma on August 29 at London’s O2 Arena, he knows exactly what role many observers have assigned him. To much of the boxing world, Hrgovic is merely the latest obstacle standing between Itauma and a future heavyweight title shot.

The 34-year-old former Olympic bronze medalist has no intention of playing along.

“I know why I have been invited here. I have been invited to lose. I understand. [Promoter] Frank Warren is not going to make as much money from me [as he stands to make with Itauma],” Hrgovic said during the fight’s launch press conference.

“My job is to stop him from reaching the promised land, from becoming champion, to be the next star.

“He has all the attributes, he has had the promotion since the beginning of his career. Everyone is predicting that he's the next big star. I am here to stop him. I will prove I am too tough, too experienced and too strong. A lot of guys write me off. But I am coming for the win.”

Hrgovic enters the bout  (20-1, 15KOs), bringing far more elite-level experience than the 21-year-old Itauma. The Croatian owns victories over Zhilei Zhang, Joe Joyce, David Adeleye, and most recently dominated Dave Allen. He also pushed Daniel Dubois in a memorable slugfest before suffering the lone defeat of his professional career.

Despite those accomplishments, bookmakers have installed him as a significant underdog against Itauma, whose meteoric rise has drawn comparisons to the excitement surrounding Mike Tyson’s emergence in the late 1980s.

The unbeaten prospect, now 14-0 with 12 knockouts, has impressed with explosive victories over Demsey McKean, Dillian Whyte, and Jermaine Franklin. Yet Hrgovic believes key questions remain unanswered.

“Look, I'm not impressed in the way that the whole world is,” Hrgovic said. “I'm a fighter, I look at different angle. Never seen him in trouble, punched, or get dropped. He definitely has skills and speed but to be a great fighter you must have heart, will, chin and endurance. We haven't seen that yet. Maybe he's got all of that but maybe not.

“I will test to see if he is the real deal. I will beat this guy and [go on to] become the heavyweight champion of the world.”

Hrgovic also took issue with suggestions that Itauma’s rapid rise mirrors the sacrifices made by fighters who climbed the ranks the hard way.

“He went from winning Youth World Championships, which I won as well, and then in 14 [professional] fights he is a superstar,” Hrgovic explained. “It has all been [laid out] on the table [for him]. He didn't sacrifice like I did, I worked much, much harder to get here. He didn't have the same kind of struggle that I went through. I respect my path much more than his. But we will see how good he is.

“He has been given everything on a plate when you compare his path to my path and others from small countries.”

Itauma, however, appeared completely unfazed by the criticism.

“This is a big test, of course,” he said. “Filip Hrgovic ain't no mug. He's achieved so much and beaten so many well known guys. Olympic bronze medal. The beautiful thing about my position is I can strip him away from all of that.”

The rising heavyweight acknowledged that Hrgovic represents the toughest challenge of his career but believes the matchup provides an opportunity to answer lingering doubts.

“Every fight promises a bit of danger. Hrgovic has proved he can do certain things and, yes, there's question marks about my career. Whatever questions I didn't answer against Jermaine Franklin, I will answer them here.”

As for Hrgovic’s suggestion that his success has been handed to him, Itauma rejected the notion entirely.

“You don't get given respect, you earn it,” Itauma said. “Whether he respects me or not, it won't do him any favors if he doesn't on fight night. He doesn't know me or anything about my life.

“The position I'm in wasn't given to me. It doesn't mean anything, the talking can't do the fighting for him. It's not going to change the outcome.”

On August 29, one of heavyweight boxing’s most intriguing clashes will determine whether Itauma’s ascent continues unchecked—or whether Hrgovic can derail the sport’s most celebrated young contender.