David Haye: Filip Hrgovic Fight Will Determine If Moses Itauma is the Best British Heavyweight Since Lennox Lewis
MOSES ITAUMA could be Britain’s best heavyweight since the great Lennox Lewis – and his fight with Filip Hrgovic could prove it. Itauma steps up in competition...
MOSES ITAUMA could be Britain’s best heavyweight since the great Lennox Lewis – and his fight with Filip Hrgovic could prove it.
Itauma steps up in competition on – with the vacant IBF heavyweight world title on the line.
Moses Itauma could be Britain’s best heavyweight since the great Lennox Lewis Credit: Getty
Lewis is Britain’s last undisputed heavyweight champion Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Two-weight world champion has claimed has impressed him more than any Brit heavyweight coming through the ranks.
That includes the rise of and .
And Haye said the test of 20-1 Hrgovic could prove a good measuring stick when it comes to judging whether Itauma could even surpass Lewis’ legacy.
He said on SunSport’s No Glove Lost : “Lennox is Olympic gold medallist, undisputed heavyweight champion, reigned for 10 years.
“Everyone’s got the ability, but until we see him in the ring with a world-class opposition who’s there to win — not there last minute to pick up a paycheck at the end of his career.
“No, this is someone fighting for the vacant IBF heavyweight championship of the world.
“After this fight I’ll have a much better idea. But looking in from afar, it looks like he is the real deal.
“He looks like he ticks every single box there is to tick, and I can’t wait to see whether the promise that he’s shown so far can be realised at bonafide world heavyweight championship level.”
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It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
The Gypsy King has beaten Mariusz Wach in his second fight of the year to set up a huge fight with Anthony Joshua
And did the same, knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a thrilling encounter – the Brit was knocked down twice in the opening round.
Now fans are looking forward to Itauma’s return for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August.
August
- Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN
September
- Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN
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Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic - all the info
Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic face off for the IBF heavyweight world title
The stakes couldn’t be higher as will be crowned IBF heavyweight champ THIS SATURDAY!
Itauma, 21, has been shaking up the division since securing back-to-back round 1 knockouts in 2023.
Three years later, the Brit star continues to put opponents on the canvas,
And this weekend, Itauma can become the youngest British heavyweight champion of all time if he overcomes Hrgovic at the O2 Arena.
WATCH ITAUMA VS HRGOVIC ON DAZN PPV
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Haye – who won world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight – gushed at Itauma’s skillset.
The 45-year-old said: “He punches so fast, he slips the shots, he rolls. What I like best about Moses is his punch evasion.
“It’s all good and well—all big young heavyweights can punch hard, great. How many of them can punch hard and not get hit back?
“He’s one of the only ones I’ve seen in many, many years who focuses on getting out of trouble in the heat of battle.”
Victory for 21-year-old Itauma will see him become the youngest heavyweight champion of all time after – who broke the record aged 20.
And Haye has backed the prodigy to do so – but warned it may not be in super-quick fashion he is used to.
He said: “I’ve got Moses winning this fight by points or late stoppage. I don’t think it’s going to be an early job.
“I think both fighters are too good to get smashed early doors.
“I think we’re anticipating fireworks from the first bell; neither of these fighters are the guys who just go out there swinging recklessly.
“They’re both very, very skilled, so I think it might be 5, 6, 7 rounds before it starts warming up.”