Hrgovic states why Itauma must lose to him.
This Saturday, Britain will be hoping to gain yet another world heavyweight champion when Moses Itauma steps into the ring for the biggest test of his career against Filip Hrgovic.
At 21 years old, should Itauma win the vacant IBF title that is on the line, he will gain a trio of distinctions: youngest British world heavyweight champion of all time, second-youngest heavyweight champion in history, and youngest active world champion in the sport.
Of course, Hrgovic will be aiming to stop Itauma from achieving those things, and the experienced Croatian has had a lot to say about his opponent and the story of the fight as a whole.
While most are choosing Itauma to overcome the experience disadvantage on the night, Hrgovic believes that it is that advantage of his that will see him emerge victorious. And moreover, he has stated his belief that it will actually be detrimental to Itauma if he were to win.
Hrgovic explained why earlier today, stating to a group of reporters during a media roundtable session, “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.
“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.”
When the fight takes place later this week, Hrgovic will be only the second Croatian to challenge for the world heavyweight title, the first being Željko Mavrović (who challenged another Briton in Lennox Lewis for the WBC title in 1998).
Can Hrgovic do what his countryman couldn’t and become the first heavyweight champion from Croatia?
We shall see this Saturday.
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