Moses Itauma has no interest in calling out Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury before his upcoming title fight. The unbeaten heavyweight contender believes targeting former champions who are no longer in their prime would be disrespectful, especially with Filip Hrgovic demanding his full attention.
Itauma faces Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight title on August 29 at London’s O2 Arena. A victory would make Itauma, 21, one of the youngest heavyweight champions in boxing history, but he refuses to use Joshua or Fury’s names to promote the fight.
“I think for me to do or suggest that, I think it’s a bit disrespectful,” Itauma said to talkSPORT Boxing. “AJ obviously isn’t in his prime, neither is Tyson Fury. I think it would be disrespectful for me to say I’d love to fight these guys now because obviously they’re not the fighters that they once were. But obviously they’re still very good and capable fighters. If we was in our primes, if we were all in our primes, it would be lovely fights. But obviously I’ve got Filip Hrgovic in front of me.”
Itauma believes Hrgovic presents the toughest test of his boxing career. The Croatian has challenged at world level and brings far more experience than anyone the British contender has faced since turning professional.
“This is the hardest fight, professional, amateur. It’s the threat, the opposition, what’s at stake. Of course it’s the biggest fight of my life,” Itauma said. “Philip Hrgovic has achieved so much in his career. The good thing about my position is I get to add those accolades onto my career. Obviously beating Filip Hrgovic, I can get some credit, and even to myself I might pat myself on the back and finally say, ‘You’ve done something you can be proud of.'”
