Johnny Nelson believes Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic is a “great fight”, but one where the Queensberry Promotions golden boy must prove his world-class capabilities.
While having not yet crafted the resume of an elite champion, many believe that Itauma is destined to become the next long-reigning heavyweight king.
More than likely, the No.1 spot will become vacant once Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning lineal champion, sails into the sunset after his next outing.
In order for Itauma to reach a status of such significance, however, he must first come through his toughest assignment on paper.
This will arrive in the form of a clash with Hrgovic on August 29, with the Olympic bronze medallist attempting to halt the Itauma hype train at London’s O2 Arena.
The 34-year-old comes off a third-round finish over Dave Allen in May, but has previously claimed more meaningful wins against the likes of Zhilei Zhang – albeit via a contentious decision – and David Adeleye.
His only defeat, meanwhile, came against current WBO champion Daniel Dubois in June 2024, when Hrgovic was stopped while wearing a mask of cuts in round eight.
While speaking with talkSPORT, though, former long-reigning cruiserweight champion Nelson said the Croatian’s sporadic lack of focus could cost him against a sharpshooter like Itauma.
“I think it’s a great fight. If [Itauma’s] as good as we think he is, he should get the job done. But it’ll be a good learning fight for him.
“[Hrgovic’s] performances have been consistent. He’s a tough, consistent guy. At times, he loses interest mid-fight. You can’t fight like that against somebody like Itauma.
“That’s why he’s perfect for Moses. It’s a safe one because [Itauma’s] got loads of gears. It’s the safest big risk out there.”
Itauma’s most impressive victory thus far came in March, when he scored a fifth-round stoppage over the typically durable Jermaine Franklin.
