I'll send Itauma back to high school - Hrgovic

British heavyweight Moses Itauma has informed his opponent, Filip Hrgovic, that he plans to send him back to high school during their upcoming fight for the vacant IBF heavyweight title at London's O2 Arena on Saturday. The 21-year-old Itauma aims to become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history, with the current record held by Mike Tyson. Hrgovic, 34, has frequently referred to Itauma as a "kid," which has reportedly angered the Chatham heavyweight.

However, Itauma downplayed the impact of Hrgovic's taunts during a Thursday news conference. "At the end of the day, talk is cheap. It's schoolboy banter," he stated. A former Olympic bronze medallist with an impressive amateur background, Hrgovic has only suffered one professional loss against Daniel Dubois in 2024. He dismissed accusations that he was attempting to engage in "mind games," asserting that he simply expresses his honest opinion: "I think he's a kid, he's not mature enough. I'm much better age, much more experienced. That's it."

Itauma, who has stopped 12 of his 14 opponents, boasts of his speed, power, and timing. He described his ideal performance as closing the fight after a couple of rounds. When pressed on whether it would be a straightforward win, Itauma replied, "We'll see, man."

Both fighters exchanged heated exchanges during the news conference, with Hrgovic suggesting that Itauma was not in peak condition and making attempts to provoke a reaction. Despite appearing agitated in the face of Hrgovic's taunts, Itauma remained steadfast, insisting that he is focused solely on Saturday's bout. At 21 years and 244 days, Itauma would become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history, surpassing the record held by Mike Tyson. He emphasized that his primary goal is to defeat Hrgovic and claim the world heavyweight title.