Boxing
Itauma vs. Hrgovic: Experts have their say on blockbuster heavyweight clash with one former world champion claiming Moses is the best since Ali
Moses vs. Hrgovic: Only on DAZN PPV – Saturday
Moses Itauma is tipped as the future of the heavyweight division — but Filip Hrgovic has vowed to derail his charge when they collide for the IBF title.
While the majority of pundits believe the unbeaten 21-year-old will become the youngest world heavyweight champ since Mike Tyson on Saturday night, some still question whether he is the real deal.
We will have a far better indication when he locks horns with Hrgovic at London’s O2 Arena, live on DAZN PPV and Ultimate Tier.
But until they do battle for the crown vacated by Oleksandr Usyk, the debate rages. Read on to see what some of the biggest names in boxing have had to say ahead of the fight.
'This is the biggest fight of my life'
Hrgovic prepares to 'destroy' Moses in world title fight
BUY NOW: Watch Itauma vs. Hrgovic exclusively on DAZN PPV & Ultimate Tier
Daniel Dubois (WBO world heavyweight champion)
Speaking to Frank Warren's Queensberry, Dubois said: “I’ve shared the ring with Hrgovic — he’s a great fighter. Tough, animal type of guy. Experienced. It’s going to be a [great] fight.
“I’m definitely going to be watching and I think the whole division — the whole world — is going to be watching. It’s a great dustup. Let’s see what Moses can do.”
Billy Joe Saunders (former two-weight world champ)
“I think Moses is the best I’ve seen since Muhammad Ali,” Saunders revealed live on talkSPORT. “He has got that back foot, front foot. You’ve got that slip counter.
“He’s the only heavyweight I know who can lean off, throw a lead uppercut and finish you with two or three shots after in a split second.
"Balance, his feet, everything about him. He's unbelievable. I'm probably his biggest fan. He amazes me."
Don Charles (Daniel Dubois’ trainer)
Speaking to BoxNation, Charles said: “That’s a very interesting fight. You have Hrgovic who’s bringing the experience, the toughness, but Moses is just a sharpshooter.
“I think he’ll be too quick, too fresh. And smart. He’s got a good boxing IQ. He might have to experience some turbulence, though, because Hrgovic is not a pushover.
“But Moses is just too sharp. And Hrgovic sustained terrible cuts when he fought Daniel, so any time anyone remotely hits that area, [the skin] will open up again.”
Carl Froch (former super-middleweight kingpin)
"Hrgovic is a bona fide, solid, Eastern European menace," Froch told NewBettingSites. "He is a good fighter and will give anyone a hard fight.
"But I think Itauma is going to be too quick, too fresh. I think he boxes rings around him for a few rounds and possibly gets the stoppage late on.
“It will be tough for him, provided he can take one on the chin, because I think Hrgovic will hit him on the chin at some point.”
'Hrgovic is more fragile than I thought'
Moses previews the biggest fight of his career
BUY NOW: Watch Itauma vs. Hrgovic exclusively on DAZN PPV & Ultimate Tier
David Haye (former two-weight world champion)
"It’s more than a banana skin, Hrgovic is world class," The Hayemaker said on The Sun's No Glove Lost. "You could throw him in with anybody and he could possibly beat them.
"I’m going to have to see stuff from Moses that I haven’t seen him do yet."
Peter Fury (renowned trainer)
Fury told Boxing Now: “I’m looking forward to the fight. Hrgovic is a good, solid fighter, but he does take a lot of punches.
“He doesn’t seem to have the best defence and I think that could be a big problem with somebody like Moses.
“But he is a tough man and has been in boxing a long time. He looks awkward and is a big strong unit, so it’s going to be interesting.”
Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing supremo)
“It’s a good bit of business from Frank Warren,” said Hearn in an interview with iFL TV. “They’ve managed to get Frank Sanchez to step aside and I think he has to fight the winner.
“I think Moses is a massive favourite [against Hrgovic].”
Joe Joyce (heavyweight)
Speaking to talkSPORT, Joyce said: "I think it’s a great test, because Hrgovic has been in the game [for a long time].
"He’s still relatively young, he’s tough [and he’s] got a great coach in Abel Sanchez, who I’ve obviously worked with before.
“But I think Moses is on another level and beats him."
David Price (ex-heavyweight)
Appearing on The Smith Brothers, Price said: “Moses hasn’t shown any weaknesses but he hasn’t been hit yet properly. That is the reality of it.
“He hasn’t had a crisis in a fight. Until that happens, there will be question marks.
“This fight, I think he will take his licks a little bit and he will answer a lot of the questions that remain.”
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.
