Moses Itauma says the mind games from Filip Hrgovic are starting to get to him. The two fighters meet Saturday at the O2 Arena in London for the IBF heavyweight world title, and Hrgovic has been working to get inside his opponent's head in the days leading up to the fight.
According to BBC Sport, Itauma acknowledged the Croatian's tactics are having some effect. "I tell myself there's nothing that this Hrgovic guy can do to get in my head but he's starting to wind me up," Itauma said. "In an interview earlier, apparently he said I wake up and I just hug trees. He's really starting to annoy me."
Itauma is 21 years old. A win Saturday would make him the second youngest heavyweight world champion in history, behind only Mike Tyson. He turned professional less than four years ago and has fought 14 times, knocking out his opponent in 12 of those bouts.
Hrgovic is 13 years older than Itauma and has leaned into that age gap throughout fight week. He has referred to Itauma as a "kid" and "inexperienced." He has also taken an unusual approach to trash talk, suggesting that a loss might actually benefit the young fighter.
"It can ruin your soul, it can make you lose yourself and we've seen a lot of superstars and famous people who have lost themselves," Hrgovic said. "They're just lost in that crazy world of fame and money. He's not ready for that. I think, for him, it would be best to lose this fight, to save his soul. Because what does it mean to achieve everything if you lose your soul and you lose yourself?"
Itauma has heard the argument and is not buying it as a reason to hold back. "I wouldn't say he has a point but if I win this fight it might not be good for my soul," Itauma conceded. "That's not the reason why I'm just gonna go in there and not win – for the sake of my soul. That's not a good idea."
He also had a read on why Hrgovic keeps talking. "In my mind if somebody's trying to get one up on you, or trying to get in your head, it's because they're not confident in themselves. Obviously Hrgovic is a talker."
Hrgovic pushed back on the idea that Itauma has already handled the pressure of the moment well. "He's already in the clouds. He's already delusional," Hrgovic said.
Itauma enters the fight as the favorite. The bout takes place Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.
