David Haye has issued a hint of caution ahead of Moses Itauma‘s clash with Filip Hrgovic on Saturday.
Itauma will be looking to follow in Haye’s footsteps by becoming a world heavyweight champion from the UK when he faces Hrgovic for the vacant IBF title at The O2 Arena in London.
The 21-year-old is seen as a big favourite in the fight, but Haye doesn’t expect it to be that straightforward, as he told The Sun about his past experiences sparring Hrgovic when the Croatian was a youngster.
“He’s one of the most dangerous fighters in the world in the heavyweight division. He’s proven it time and time again.
“I remember sparring him when he was 19, 20 years old, him and Deontay Wilder, and both of those guys I could see when they were very young and very early in their professional careers that they would be leading the world in this heavyweight division.
“Even his last fight against Dave Allen, Allen is no mug, he’s a good solid British level fighter, but the gulf in class when you saw them together, that is world class heavyweight boxing. Moses haven’t proven anything yet. The opponents he’s been in the ring with, nobody has come close to what Filip is going to do.
It’s more than a banana skin, Hrgovic is world class. You could throw him in with anybody and he could possibly beat them. I’m going to have to see stuff from Moses that I haven’t seen him do yet.”
Despite his fears, Haye admitted that he is still backing Itauma to emerge victorious.
“I really fancy Moses to win this one, but it might not be easy. It might not be straightforward, Filip is going to bring the heat.”
A win for Itauma would see him become the second youngest world heavyweight champion in history, with Mike Tyson only having accomplished it at a younger age.
