The atmosphere leading up to the championship bout between Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic became extremely tense. During the weigh-in ceremony, a physical confrontation broke out between the boxers. The fight for the IBF title nearly began before either fighter even entered the ring.
Moses Itauma will face Filip Hrgovic this weekend in a bout for the IBF heavyweight title. The fight will take place at The O2 Arena in London.
Itauma returns to the ring following his March victory over Jermaine Franklin. The British boxer knocked out his opponent, successfully defending his WBA and WBO heavyweight titles. Now, however, he faces what is likely to be one of the toughest tests of his career so far.
After all, Hrgović is an Olympic bronze medalist and a much more experienced fighter. Even before the bout, it was clear that there was no shortage of tension between the boxers. The two had a very intense face-to-face encounter during a recent joint interview, and emotions ran high once again right before the fight.
Itauma and Hrgović clashed during the weigh-in! Things got heated
On Friday, both fighters appeared at the official weigh-in ahead of Saturday’s event at The O2 Arena. After the traditional face-off, Itauma shoved Hrgovic, prompting an immediate reaction from the Croatian.
Hrgović responded with a slap, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control. Chaos erupted on stage, and the boxers came very close to getting into a full-blown brawl even before the official bout began.
Fortunately, none of the fighters was injured during the scuffle. The fight will therefore take place as scheduled.
Hrgović will enter the fight on the heels of a very strong run in his career. The Croatian has won three straight fights since his loss to Daniel Dubois in June 2024. In May, he defeated David Allen by stoppage, winning the WBA Continental Gold and IBF Intercontinental heavyweight titles.
For Itauma, a victory could open the door to even bigger fights. If the young Brit can get the better of Hrgovic, his next fight could give him a chance to face one of the biggest names in the heavyweight division, including Oleksandr Usyk.
Hrgović, however, intends to throw a wrench in those plans. The Croatian will have a chance to pull off a huge upset and teach Itauma a painful first lesson at the highest level.
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