During an intense London press conference, Filip Hrgovic criticized undefeated heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma, suggesting that the young fighter had his career path handed to him on a silver platter. Hrgovic, who highlighted his own difficult journey from a small nation without significant promotional support, questioned whether Itauma had truly earned his status.
Itauma, 21, remains undefeated in 14 bouts and is set to face the experienced Croatian on 29 August at London’s O2 Arena. While Hrgovic remains skeptical of his opponent’s background, Itauma appeared calm, emphasizing that regardless of the narrative, he still had to win his fights to reach this level. He noted the significant age gap between them and dismissed Hrgovic’s criticism as uninformed.
The winner of this bout, both representing Queensberry Promotions, could move closer to a world-title opportunity. Itauma, who recently defeated Jermaine Franklin, acknowledged that Hrgovic presents the most significant challenge of his career to date. Hrgovic, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, questioned whether the young fighter has the resilience and chin required to succeed at the highest level, citing that he has never seen Itauma tested in the ring. The fighters concluded the event with a handshake, though the tension regarding their differing professional paths remained clear.