Filip Hrgovic has entered his fight with Moses Itauma claiming to be fully healthy for the first time in five or six years. Trainer Abel Sanchez says the Croatian heavyweight also completed camp without promotional disputes, contractual discussions or other distractions following nine weeks of work in Big Bear.
“He said in his last couple of interviews that, for five or six years, he’s never been to a fight where he wasn’t injured in some way,” Sanchez told Eze Talk Sports. “This is, for him, the first training camp where there are no outside issues, there are no contractual discussions and all that from promoters. He had a great training camp, no injuries in camp, he had great sparring, everything went well for him. Maybe it’s a sign.”
Hrgovic battled through severe cuts until his fight with Daniel Dubois was stopped by the doctor in the eighth round. He also recovered from a first-round knockdown to defeat Zhilei Zhang by decision and weathered a difficult eighth round before beating David Adeleye on points. Those experiences are why Sanchez sees more value in Hrgovic’s toughness than speculation about Itauma’s chin.
Sanchez is not designing the strategy around landing one perfect heavyweight punch. He wants Hrgovic to force Itauma into situations the 21-year-old has avoided during a carefully controlled climb through the division. Itauma’s lack of professional rounds gives Hrgovic an area to attack. The young southpaw has usually removed opponents before a fight develops, while Hrgovic completed 12 physical rounds with Zhang.
If Hrgovic absorbs the initial assault, Itauma must handle his pace and maintain his speed against a heavyweight who will continue forcing exchanges. The Croatian’s right hand also provides a direct weapon against Itauma’s southpaw stance. Itauma has shown a tendency to retreat in straight lines when opponents reach him, leaving room for Hrgovic’s straight right or the heavier shot over the lead shoulder. Itauma’s hand speed may let him control the early exchanges, but pulling back with his head upright becomes more dangerous against a puncher of Hrgovic’s size.
Before turning professional, Itauma had limited amateur experience. Sanchez described his previous opposition as “selected opponents” and called Hrgovic his first top 5 or top 10 heavyweight.
Sanchez believes the hype machine crowned Itauma before he deserved it, giving Hrgovic every reason to ruin the party. The plan does not involve giving away early rounds while waiting for the youngster to fade. He wants Hrgovic taking the fight to Itauma from the first bell.
Itauma has never shared the ring with someone carrying Hrgovic’s physical size, battle-tested chin, or professional pedigree. If the quick stoppage eludes him, the young prospect will have to demonstrate real staying power against a foe who stands his ground.
Moses Itauma Shoves Hrgovic Off Weigh-In Stage
Moses Itauma initiated an ugly weigh-in clash today by shoving Filip Hrgovic backward and off the stage before their vacant IBF heavyweight title fight at London’s O2 Arena.
After regaining his balance, Hrgovic stepped forward and slapped Itauma across the face with his right hand. Itauma tried to reach the Croatian heavyweight, but security and members of both teams held the fighters apart.
Itauma started it by pushing Hrgovic off the edge of an elevated stage, where a bad landing carried more danger than anything likely to happen during a standard staredown. He was upset about Hrgovic stepping in front of him, partially for a double-biceps pose. It was pretty harmless stuff, but Itauma got heated enough to shove Hrgovic while his back was turned.
Hrgovic Exposes Itauma’s Temper
Hrgovic repeatedly labeled Itauma a protected “golden child” steered carefully toward this title opportunity. The way that Itauma lost his temper today was a signal that Hrgovic’s comments have gotten to him.
The reaction exposes genuine vulnerability. Confident fighters shrug off verbal insults, flash a grin, and settle business inside the ropes. Instead, the 21-year-old met a standard pose with physical aggression, proving his patience snaps the moment he feels slighted.
Hrgovic now holds a clear psychological target. If he roughs up Itauma on the inside, leans hard during clinches, and turns early rounds into a grueling dogfight, the young puncher must avoid unraveling into reckless mistakes.
Itauma hit the scale at 241.7 pounds, while Hrgovic came in trim at 236.2. The scale numbers do not dictate tactics outright, but the Croatian’s lean conditioning favors an active plan built on movement, straight right hands through the southpaw guard, and non-stop pressure.
Itauma has not faced incoming fire from anyone carrying Hrgovic’s rare blend of size, physical power, and battle-tested experience. The opposition fed to the young prospect so far sits firmly in the journeyman category, save for a 38-year-old, faded Dillian Whyte.
Hrgovic has already faced monstrous punchers, absorbing full-force bombs from Zhilei Zhang and trading heavy artillery with Daniel Dubois. Shoving someone off an elevated stage is simple. Keeping composure once Hrgovic connects with clean right hands will prove whether Itauma is truly ready for the elite level.
