Filip Hrgovic intends to halt the momentum of rising heavyweight Moses Itauma, labeling the unbeaten prospect a “hype job” before their August 29 clash in London. The Croatian veteran believes British marketing, not just talent, is fueling the narrative around his opponent.
Hrgovic is positioned as the underdog despite a resume that includes victories over Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce. He questions the widespread predictions of a dominant performance from the 21-year-old Itauma. “People saying Moses can win? People saying Moses will destroy me, man,” Hrgovic said. He attributes this confidence to a powerful promotional machine. “Because that’s called a hype job. They hype him so much. He had a few knockouts, but the whole world is talking about him,” Hrgovic stated, adding, “If he is from Bulgaria, no one would talk of him.”
While acknowledging Itauma’s speed and southpaw stance, Hrgovic credits the British boxing scene for creating heroes. “You guys are the best in the business, the biggest boxing crowd in the world, and you know how to sell products,” he said. “People like to have heroes. So you always need to have some hero, and people look at him as a new great heavyweight, like a new Mike Tyson, like a new hero.”
His mission is clear. “My job is to quit that.”
Hrgovic, 34, also rejected any notion that he is past his prime, asserting he is at the peak of his abilities. “I’m still going up. I still didn’t start to going down,” he insisted. “I’m 34 now. I’m not young. I’m not also old for heavyweight. So I think I’m in the best age, experience, and still speed and power.” This fight represents a significant step up in competition for Itauma, who has not faced an opponent with Hrgovic’s experience or durability.
The stakes are high for both fighters. A victory for Itauma would validate his status as a future world title challenger and prove he belongs at the top level. For Hrgovic, a win re-establishes him as a serious contender and demonstrates that he is more than a gatekeeper for the division’s next generation. The winner will move into a strong position for a major heavyweight fight.
