Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic predictions

Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic - Who wins?

Moses Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) and Filip Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs) clash for the vacant IBF World heavyweight title this Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London, live on DAZN PPV.

21-year-old protégé Itauma has been referred to as 'The Future of Heavyweight Boxing', his performances placing him on a pedestal high up in stratosphere, but is he set up for a fall from grace in the biggest test of his pro career against Croatian giant, Hrgovic?

All eyes will be on the IBF heavyweight title showdown this Saturday night where someone will join Agit Kabayel, Daniel Dubois and Murat Gassiev as world champions, but who?

GBN asked their panel of experts for their predictions.

David Price, Former British & Commonwealth heavyweight champion

“I think Filip Hrgovic will be able to use his experience to take Moses Itauma into the second half of the fight and he won’t want to go down. As the fight goes on, Itauma will be landing clean shots and counters, but Hrgovic is durable and he won’t go down easily.

“I’m hoping Hrgovic gives Itauma some questions to answer and gives him some kind of crisis situation, so we can see how he reacts and recovers in that situation – I think he needs that.

“Realistically, I think in rounds eight or nine Itauma will either stop Hrgovic on his feet, or his corner will pull him out of the fight.”

Dave Allen, Former WBA International heavyweight champion

“If he boxes Itauma… I don’t know, you know. I’m not sure. He’s good. He’s there to be hit, but he does that much punching, it’s hard to get one off on him. I felt like he would’ve slowed down, but for my style and ability, I’d have taken way too much to get him there.”

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing

“I think that Hrgovic is a world-class heavyweight. Is he elite? I think that he is close to it. There was one stage where I think that he was really close to it.

“He is going to fight Itauma now and I think that it is a good fight. I think that Moses will be much too sharp for him, but I think that it is a proper challenge. It’s Moses’ first real test.”

Tim Rickson, GBN Editor

“I'm fully aware of Filip Hrgovic's extensive boxing background, vast experience, high skillset, sheer size and power, but I cannot see past a Moses Itauma win.

“For me, speed kills. I believe Itauma is far faster and will land accurately on the Croatian target before he can even think of what to do. Hrgovic throws those big one-twos down the middle, but I don't envisage Itauma getting caught by them, he's too quick, clever and reactive.

“Hrgovic is tough and durable, he didn't go down against Daniel Dubois, who has a 95% KO ratio, instead he was let down by a cut, so this giant oak tree will not be chopped down easily. I think it will take Itauma a few patient rounds, at least the first four or five before he begins to break the behemoth down. I'm picking Itauma to won by KO in the middle rounds.”

Wayne Alexander, Former British, European, World welterweight champion

“This is a very Big step up for Moses, fighting a genuine world class fighter with more experience and still near his best, but I do believe that Moses is a special talent and future heavyweight champion.

“He will take a few rounds to figure out Filip Hrgovic’s style, and stop him in the middle of the fight.”

Joe Joyce, Former WBO Interim heavyweight champion

“I think it’s a great test, because Hrgovic has been in the game [for a long time].

“He’s still relatively young [34], he’s tough, got a great coach, Abel Sanchez, who I’ve obviously worked with before.

“But I think Moses is on another level and beats him.”

Carl Froch, Former super-middleweight world champion

“Hrgovic is a bona fide, solid, Eastern European menace.

“He is a good fighter and will give anyone a hard fight. But I think Itauma is going to be too quick, too fresh.

“I think he boxes rings around him for a few rounds and possibly gets the stoppage late on.”

Tony Bellew, Former WBC World cruiserweight champion

“I think that he gets rid of him inside six rounds. That’s what worries me. He gets through the Hrgovic fight, blows him away inside six rounds and then they throw him to the wolves.”

Spencer Oliver, Former European super-bantamweight champion

"I'm going to go for Moses between rounds eight and 10.

"I think that Filip Hrgovic is underestimated. I think he is very proven and is an elite heavyweight.

"Very, very tough. But he is cut prone, and that may be his problem, and that may be where he gets stopped, on his feet."

Arijan Goricki, IBO title contender

“My prediction is that fight will be fireworks, but at the end I think that Hrgovic’s experience will be too big for Itauma and that Itauma’s corner will retire him late in the fight.”

Burim Sylejmani, Fides Sports Promotion

“There has been a lot of talk about this fight recently. For me, Moses Itauma is a huge talent in the heavyweight division and he has delivered some very strong performances so far. However, he still hasn’t faced someone from the top level of the division yet. That said, I believe he has a massive future in heavyweight boxing.

“Filip Hrgovic has the greater experience and has faced the stronger names. That’s why I believe this fight comes a little too early for Itauma, and in my opinion Hrgovic will win the fight.”

Keith Sullivan, Boxing Manager

“It’s an interesting fight. People forget Hrgovic has that Olympic pedigree. He won a bronze in the 2016 Games.

“Moses is only 21 years old, but makes up for his youth with tremendous fundamentals and talent.

“I see it as a close fight. It’s a big test for Moses. If Filip can make it an aggressive fight and keep Moses out of pocket and off his technically sound skill et, I believe Flip can take the victory.

“It’s going to be a good one for sure. It’s definitely not going to the scorecards, the judges can stay home for this one.”

Marshall Kauffman, Kings Boxing

“Wow! The UK does it like no one else when it comes to the Heavyweights!

“This is a great matchup, one that I think will test Moses for the first few rounds until he gets Filip out of there.

“I think Moses is too fast and very relaxed in the ring which helps him with seeing opportunities and then capitalizing on them as well.

“This is by far his greatest test on paper when fighting a puncher like Filip.

“I am looking forward to this fight.”

Nelson Lopez Jr, Boxing Manager

“Itauma will box well and pressure with aggressive feints and counter-punching, but remaining composed, and break Filip down and stop him in the later rounds.

“Moses is a great fighter and will be victorious.”

Donald Stewart, BBN columnist

“Itauma stops him. There was nothing in the fight with Dave Allen that says he can stop a moderately well equipped heavyweight, never mind a puncher like Itauma.”

Scott Christ, SB Nation

“We’ve seen super-hyped young fighters stumble many, many, many, many, many, many times in boxing history. A lot of the names are now forgotten, because they stumbled and never made it back. Some have stumbled and then gathered themselves to go on and have great careers anyway.

“Itauma will eventually meet his match. Even if, in theory, his skill set continues to develop into something that is nigh unbeatable on paper, someone will come along and have him figured out and be an absolute pain in his ass. Someone who can stand up to the power and speed, nullify it all to some degree, and maybe even get into his head a little bit and trouble him that way. Even if Itauma is truly great, this happens to literally every great fighter at some point, even those who never take an L.

“I don’t think it comes here. Hrgovic’s ceiling has been seen and is clear, and I don’t think he has the tools to be the one to give Itauma big fits. I would be a lot more surprised by Hrgovic having an argument for the win, when all is said and done, than I would be by Itauma blowing him away inside of the first round. Hrgovic has never showcased the best stamina, he’s got repeated flaws that just don’t seem like they’re going to be — or can be — “corrected” in his mid-30s. Even if he can extend this into the second half, will that serve him well? 

“Moses Itauma by fifth round KO.”

DID YOU KNOW? The first-ever IBF World heavyweight champion was Larry Holmes, 42 years ago in 1984. There's been 18 champions in total, only four of them British - Daniel Dubois, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Lennox Lewis.