Moses Itauma can become the second youngest man to win a world heavyweight title on Saturday night, when the Brit faces Filip Hrgovic at the O2 Arena in London. This, as much as it can be, is the acid test we have been waiting for.
There is a reason Itauma has not faced a defining challenge en route to this IBF world title shot, and that is because he is so good. Hrgovic is a dangerous opponent, his only loss coming against Daniel Dubois on cuts. He was a brilliant amateur, winning gold at the youth world championships, European gold and Olympic bronze.
A Tough Examination
So you would think this is a very tough examination. But I believe Itauma is another lever, explosive, fast, with excellent movement and a southpaw to boot. Of course, Hrgovic is talking him down, highlighting Itauma's youth and inexperience. At 21 and with just 14 fights to his name, Hrgovic has a point on paper. Yet, when he puts his head on the pillow at night, he knows he is in deep at the O2 Arena.
He will not admit that publicly, of course. Hrgovic is a pedigree fighter, a big puncher, sharp, switched on, and still has ambitions of his own. He also took everything Dubois threw at him before the referee waved it off in the eighth.
Private Doubts Realised
As a fighter you analyse everything, because that is all part of the mental preparation. Hrgovic will have gone through all the possibilities, every eventuality. He might big himself up in front of the media, but in his heart he will have watched Itauma's fights and registered the outcomes. Only three have gone further than two rounds; the majority ended in the first.
Within the opening 30 seconds, all those private doubts will be realised. Make no mistake, Itauma wants to put on a show, to prove himself at this level. He knows the pundits have marked this as a test, that they will be looking to spot any flaws. That brings pressure, but ultimately his ability overrides whatever the opinion makers might say.
Relentless From the Bell
He will go straight at Hrgovic from the bell. The first three rounds will be relentless. He wants to be the first to knock this guy out, and I think he will. He hits so hard and so accurately. He switches from body to head. His opponents are constantly under pressure. On top of that, he sees shots coming, which makes him hard to hit.
I do not see this going past six rounds. Only Iron Mike Tyson reached the heavyweight summit at an earlier age. That is the kind of company Itauma aims to keep.
