Moses Itauma is 14-0 (12 KOs), 21 years old, and presumed the future of the heavyweight division by, well, practically everyone. The fanfare around the prospect is so loud and convincing, in fact, that world-class contender Filip Hrgovic is regarded as little more than a stepping stone when they clash in a Queensberry-promoted 12-rounder at London’s O2 Arena on August 29.
Yet Hrgovic, 20-1 (15 KOs), represents a sizeable jump in class for the youngster. The Croatian, unlike Itauma, can boast experience of doing battle with genuine leading heavyweights. He has beaten Zhilei Zhang. He engaged in a rock ’em, sock ’em affair with Daniel Dubois. He’s worthy of his position in the top five. Throw in his victories over Joe Joyce, David Adeleye, his 2016 Olympic bronze medal, his recent thrashing of Dave Allen, and it’s easy to understand why the 34-year-old is a little miffed to discover he’s a 9-to-2 underdog.
