Boxing
‘I’m just trying to find my own way’ – Itauma admits spotlight is intense
Moses vs. Hrgovic: Only on DAZN PPV – Saturday
Many boxers revel in the spotlight of being famous. Moses Itauma is not one of them.
The undefeated 21-year-old knows the interest in him is only going to intensify if he wins the vacant IBF title by beating Filip Hrgovic on Saturday night.
Victory at The O2 Arena in London would see him crowned the second-youngest world heavyweight champion, with just the legendary Mike Tyson achieving the feat quicker.
While Moses has previously revealed he is blown away by the support he receives, the pace at which life has changed has been as rapid as his ascent up the rankings.
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BUY NOW: Watch Itauma vs. Hrgovic exclusively on DAZN PPV & Ultimate Tier
And he remains refreshingly honest about how not being able to go about his daily business without being recognised continues to have an impact.
“That's the one thing I'm struggling with,” he told DAZN News. “I speak to multiple people about how they deal with it and everybody gives me different answers.
“I'm just trying to find my own way on how to deal with it. But I think it might just be to start exiting the country.
“Of course, it will get worse if I win on Saturday, 100%. I'm not prepared for that.”
Understandably, many people would argue that being stopped by fans wherever he goes is a nice problem to have.
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BUY NOW: Watch Itauma vs. Hrgovic exclusively on DAZN PPV & Ultimate Tier
Moses largely agrees, but there is a limit to how much time he can devote to chatting and posing for pictures, particularly if the approach is not made in a friendly manner.
He added: “Unless somebody says ‘Moses’, I just ignore it. Even the other day, I was walking down Romford High Street and some guy was going, ‘Boxer, boxer, hey, boxer’. He ain't saying my name.
“Anybody could be a boxer. It's not me. So I carried on walking as if I didn't hear him.
“Just be polite. Do you know what I mean? You need to analyse the situation. If I'm at the gym, I probably would take a selfie, but I wouldn't want to.
“If I'm at a restaurant, I'm going to say no, unless it's a little kid. Just analyse the situation.”
Despite those frustrations, Moses is grateful for every fan and cannot wait to be cheered on by a packed house on Saturday.
He is also looking forward to seeing supporters wearing Team Itauma T-shirts, hoodies and caps after Nike released a clothing range at his request.
“Everybody kept asking me for them,” he explained. “We spoke to Nike and said let’s get some clothing out. That was it. That's how simple it was. It’s sick.”
While the trappings of fame and fortune may seem appealing, they are not for everyone.
For now, beating Hrgovic is all that matters to Moses. After that is ticked off, he’ll tackle whatever life throws at him next.
Moses vs. Hrgovic - exclusively on DAZN PPV
Watch Moses Itauma attempt to become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson against Filip Hrgovic on Saturday night, only on DAZN.
Buy as a one-off PPV or included along with Garcia vs. Benn (Sept 12, UK only) and Canelo vs. Mbilli (Oct 31) PPVs with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
