MOSES ITAUMA will have his chin and heart tested on August 29 by dangerous heavyweight Filip Hrgovic.
A deal has finally been done to clash at London’s O2 Arena, as the latest step-up for the 21-year-old punching prodigy.
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Moses Itauma will be back in action on August 29 Credit: GETTY
The undefeated southpaw will take on Croatian clubber Filip Hrgovic at the O2 Arena Credit: GETTY
Hrgovic, the 34-year-old Croatian heavyweight, was gifted a sweetener of a win against overmatched fans’ favourite Dave Allen in May.
And after battering the Doncaster hero inside three one-sided rounds, ‘El Animal’ pointed his teeth and claws towards the red-hot Kent prospect.
A July 25 plan was axed when Anthony Joshua grabbed the date first and Tyson Fury fancies an August 1 tune-up in Ireland.
So Itauma now has a clear path and plan to keep pushing his name towards those former champions.
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Hrgovic said: “I am not afraid of Moses, I am not afraid of anyone, I will fight him, no problem.
“I know everyone will write me off because he is the new future superstar but I can take him to late rounds, deep waters.
“I have never been knocked out in a 20-year career, so I have a great chin, so I know I can test him.
“He definitely has the skills to be the next face of boxing, speed, timing, combinations, a southpaw stance.
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Moses Itauma knocked out durable heavyweight Jermaine Franklin in their Manchester melee in March Credit: Getty
Filip Hrgovic brutalised fan favourite Dave Allen in three rounds in his last outing Credit: GETTY
“But we have never seen him take a punch, be dropped, get up and carry on.
“He’s definitely a great boxer but we don’t know if he is a real warrior.”
After selling out Manchester’s Co-Op arena for the punch-perfect stoppage of Jermaine Franklin in March, promoters Queensberry toyed with the idea of taking the Chatham wizzkid on a tour of the UK.
But Hall-of-Fame Matchmaker Frank Warren has chosen headlining at the Greenwich venue for the first time as the best move for the champ-in-waiting.
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Hrgovic was left a bloody mess by Daniel Dubois in Saudi Arabia in 2024 but he has gone on a Brit-bashing rampage since, beating up Joe Joyce, David Adeleye and Allen.
And he reckons the latest ace in the UK’s heavyweight class has still not passed a proper litmus test.
He said: “I want to fight anyone in the division and that includes Moses.
“Moses has never reached the promised land.”
