Boxing world offers predictions for Itauma v Hrgovic title fight

Prince Naseem Hamed has offered praise for Moses Itauma ahead of his upcoming fight this Saturday.

On Saturday, Moses Itauma will compete against Croatian boxer Filip Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena for the vacant IBF title, presenting an opportunity for Britain to crown a new heavyweight world champion.

The 21-year-old British pugilist holds an undefeated professional record of 14 wins, with 12 of those victories coming by knockout, solidifying his reputation as one of the most promising young talents in the division.

Should the Chatham native secure a win, he would become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson achieved the feat in 1986.

However, Hrgovic represents a significantly tougher challenge; the seasoned 34-year-old, an Olympic bronze medallist from 2016, boasts a record of 20 wins and just one loss, having stopped 15 of his opponents.

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BBC Sport gathered predictions for the fight from various personalities within the boxing community.

One expert commented that Hrgovic might be the most suitable opponent for Itauma at this moment, stating that while it appears to be a test on paper, they do not believe it will genuinely challenge him. They added that Moses would likely experience no pressure whatsoever in such a fight.

They predicted it would be one of the easiest nights of Moses's career, culminating in him winning a world title.

Another analyst indicated they consider Itauma the favourite, acknowledging his superior fighting ability, though noting his lack of experience over longer distances. This person felt that people might be underestimating Hrgovic's resilience and his capacity to withstand punches.

They suggested that Itauma could potentially overwhelm Hrgovic early due to his precision, but also envisioned a scenario where Hrgovic endures the initial onslaught, making the latter half of the fight more challenging for Itauma.

Nevertheless, they still anticipate Moses emerging victorious, pointing out Hrgovic's tendency to cut easily and foreseeing the fight being stopped due to cuts from Itauma's frequent strikes.

A third commentator described the upcoming bout as an excellent fight, serving as a much-needed challenge for Itauma, and found the stylistic matchup very intriguing. They predicted the fight would either be extremely difficult or remarkably easy, not expecting a middle ground where Itauma cruises to victory looking impressive.

They speculated that Itauma would either finish the fight within three rounds, or this would prove to be the definitive acid test everyone has been anticipating.

The commentator praised Hrgovic's bravery and toughness but noted his upright stance makes him an easy target. They described Itauma as having a complete skill set, capable of moving in and out of range, possessing sharp reflexes, the footwork and speed of a cruiserweight, and the punching power of a heavyweight.

They mentioned having long supported Moses against any heavyweight globally, with the exception of Oleksandr Usyk. However, considering Usyk's recent performance against Rico Verhoeven, they would now likely back Moses even against him.

While acknowledging Hrgovic's technical proficiency will pose more questions than Itauma's previous opponents, they ultimately believe Moses's speed and timing will be the decisive factors.