On Saturday, Moses Itauma seeks to make history by defeating Filip Hrgovic and capturing the IBF heavyweight title at the age of just 21 years old, and former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has offered his final thoughts on the contest.
Itauma can become the youngest British and second-youngest fighter in boxing history to get his hands on the heavyweight crown, if he is able to maintain his undefeated record and trump Croatia’s Hrgovic this weekend.
Hrgovic comfortably represents Itauma’s toughest test yet as a professional, with his only career defeat coming to reigning WBO world champion Daniel Dubois.
Speaking on the Fight Your Corner Podcast, in partnership, Bellew forecasted a win inside of five rounds for the Briton, warning that Itauma may have to pick himself up off the canvas if it lasts any longer.
“I think that Moses Itauma finds the range, dictates the pace and I think that it is over within five rounds.
“If it does [go longer than that] it will do him good.
“If it goes longer than five rounds, Moses Itauma is going to have to drag himself up off the floor, trust me. That is where you are going to have to find the character and I think that he has got it, I am backing him.”
Bellew then went on to further praise the Kent-based youngster, labelling him as the ‘heir to the Oleksandr Usyk throne’.
“I think that this kid is special, but I have said this before and I have gone out on a whim and said, everyone remembers, that David Price was the heir to the [Wladimir] Klitschko throne. At the time, it looked exactly right, it looked nailed on and I said that after two fights as a pro, I was telling everyone about him.
“I’m putting Moses Itauma right up there and saying that he is the heir to the [Oleksandr] Usyk throne.”
Itauma-Hrgovic takes place on Saturday at the O2 Arena, with the victor of the main event expected to defend the title against Frank Sanchez before the end of the year.
