“I don’t believe he has that,” Hrgovic told The Stomping Ground when asked if Itauma is willing to “die in the ring.”
“Since the beginning, I don’t see him as a warrior. He’s a good fighter, skillful, talented. He got physical talent, but the way he looks, the way he talks, I just don’t see him as a tough man.
“I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, but when I see him, I just don’t see a warrior. I see a normal guy.”
Hrgovic made it clear he respects what Itauma has accomplished inside the ring but believes the unanswered questions only begin once a fighter is forced into adversity.
“Until now, he did perfectly. He beat all the guys that he faced. But the question is how will he react when he is in trouble?” said Hrgovic. “Does he have great endurance, great chin, great will, determination? We’ll see.”
The Croatian believes he will be the first opponent capable of forcing Itauma into those situations.
“When I connect, when I don’t back up, when I put the pressure, when it goes to deeper rounds, when he catches me with a good shot and I just keep coming forward, that’s all new for him,” said Hrgovic about him planning to test Itauma.
Hrgovic also contrasted his own path to the top with Itauma’s, arguing that British fighters receive more support than those coming from smaller boxing nations.
“I respect much more my journey. Compared to my journey, it’s nothing. I feel like he was given everything on the table,” said Hrgovic. “Everyone trains hard, but it’s different when you come from a small country and have to learn the business by yourself, without managers or coaches helping you.”
Hrgovic (19-1, 15 KOs) meets Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) on August 29 at the O2 Arena in London. The winner is expected to move into position for a shot at the WBO heavyweight title, provided Daniel Dubois defeats Lawrence Okolie in their scheduled title defense.
