Boxing
Moses Itauma’s only focus is on beating Filip Hrgovic at O2 Arena
Moses Itauma has shut down talk of future stadium fights and insisted his sole focus is on claiming the world heavyweight title with victory over Filip Hrgovic on August 29.
British heavyweight prospect Itauma (14-0, 12KOs) will fight for the vacant IBF crown in his 15th professional fight at O2 Arena and aim to remain on course to dominate the blue-riband division for the next decade.
Queensberry promoter Frank Warren last week described the 21-year-old as the “hottest young boxer” in the world and predicted a Wembley blockbuster showdown with Daniel Dubois in 2027 if Croatian power-puncher Hrgovic (20-1, 15KOs) can be navigated in London.
Yet, Itauma told British media on Friday: “I haven’t really thought about that to be honest.
“If I don’t get past Hrgovic, there ain’t going to be no stadium fights.”
The short and sharp nature of Itauma’s answer fits with his current image and resume, which contains 12 knockout wins and eight inside three minutes.
It is those numbers sprinkled in with devastating finishes, like the uppercut to end his last bout with Jermaine Franklin in Manchester, that has made Warren and plenty of other boxing experts anoint Itauma as the future of the sport.
The dream of being called out as world heavyweight champion first entered the consciousness of the Chatham southpaw at the age of 16 to 17 when Queensberry had already secured his signature.
Whilst Itauma is ready to deliver under the London lights, he has been candid enough to admit at an unease with his growing presence in the public eye.
“Maybe 16 or 17,” Itauma said. “(My aim) was becoming the youngest (world heavyweight champion) and it was all the money and fame that came after.
“Then when I started progressing through my career, I saw the negative side of it, I was kind of like, ‘I might not want this,’ but the way I am heading, like I said, I might not have a choice.
“I just try to be authentic when I am on the camera and then in my boxing, I guess they see I am putting on entertaining fights, so that might have a part to play in it.
“I don’t really know. I’m not braggadocious, I’m not swaggerdocious, I don’t do anything extraordinary outside of the ring.
“In my mind it might be because I come across like myself. I don’t try to be anyone else.
“I remember the Jermaine Franklin fight, yeah when everybody was going, ‘oh Moses Itauma,’ and I just want to sit there and appreciate it, but it’s hard because I’m in the ring fighting!
“You try to appreciate and take it in but at the same time you don’t want to be starstruck and get caught out.”
Hrgovic has talked down Itauma’s CV and stoked the fire before this world title fight, but received a warning from his opponent.
“Ah man, nobody comes to watch heavyweights and two guys go to points,” Itauma said, with a menacing smile.
“If you are watching the heavyweight division, you want to see some knockouts.”
