Moses Itauma admits Filip Hrgovic’s pre-fight comments are beginning to irritate him ahead of their IBF heavyweight world title fight on Saturday at the O2 Arena.
Hrgovic has repeatedly called the 21-year-old a “kid” and “inexperienced,” while also suggesting that losing could ultimately be better for Itauma.
“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,” Itauma said. “He’s really starting to annoy me.”
Hrgovic argued that becoming a world champion so young could negatively affect Itauma, saying: “I think, for him, it would be best to lose this fight, to save his soul.”
Itauma has stopped 12 of his 14 professional opponents and would become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history with a victory.
“I wouldn’t say he has a point, but if I win this fight it might not be good for my soul,” Itauma said. “That’s not the reason why I’m just gonna go in there and not win.”
Image Credit: BBC