Hrgovic slaps Itauma after being pushed off stage at weigh-in

Moses Itauma has expressed that British fighter Filip Hrgovic's taunts are starting to get under his skin ahead of their upcoming IBF heavyweight world title fight at the O2 Arena. A win in this bout would make the 21-year-old Itauma the second youngest heavyweight world champion in history, only trailing Mike Tyson. Hrgovic, who is currently favored to win, has been making disparaging remarks about Itauma, labeling him as a "kid" and "inexperienced".

Itauma admits that Hrgovic's words are beginning to frustrate him, stating, "I tell myself there's nothing that this Hrgovic guy can do to get in my head, but he's starting to wind me up." Observers note that Hrgovic's comments may be a sign of his own insecurity, as the 43-year-old Croatian is significantly older than his opponent.

Hrgovic even suggested that Itauma's victory could negatively impact his future, implying that losing the fight would "save his soul". Despite these comments, Itauma remains focused on the task at hand, acknowledging that if he wins, it might not be the best thing for his soul.