Moses Itauma brushes off ‘school’ jibes as he aims to be youngest heavyweight champ since Mike Tyson

Moses Itauma, a 21-year-old British heavyweight, is aiming to become the youngest champion in the sport's history by facing Filip Hrgovic for the IBF title in London on Saturday. The undefeated Itauma, who made his pro debut at 18, is already 14-0 and has knocked out several high-profile opponents, including former contender Dillian Whyte and current contender Jermaine Franklin.

Hrgovic, a 34-year-old Croatian, has been taunting Itauma's youthful inexperience, even threatening to "send him back to high school." Despite the jibes, Itauma remains focused on the title and record, stating, "At the end of the day talk is cheap. He has just got schoolboy banter and that's it. You've got to keep rolling." Hrgovic, meanwhile, has had a mixed career, including a significant setback in a 2024 loss to Daniel Dubois, who is now the WBO champion.

The matchup between the two veterans has been overshadowed by a potential heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, which remains unresolved.