Filip Hrgovic’s four-word comment that made Moses Itauma snap on stage

Moses Itauma will take on Filip Hrgovic this evening as the 21-year-old aims to become the second-youngest heavyweight in boxing history.

The Brit, aged just 21, will face the experienced Croatian for the vacant IBF heavyweight title at the O2 Arena in London this evening

If victorious, he will become second only to Mike Tyson in 1968 as the sport’s youngest ever heavyweight champion.

Itauma’s record stands at 14-0-0, with 12 of those victories arriving by knockout, while Hrgovic’s record is 20-0-1, with 15 of those coming by knockout — his sole loss came courtesy of Daniel Dubois in Riyadh, back in 2024.

In their final face-off prior to the event, the two appeared to clash after the Croatian, who claimed bronze for his country at the 2016 Olympics, uttered expletives directly to Itauma’s face on stage.

The Brit weighed in six pounds heavier than his opponent at 242, while Hrgovic arrived packing 236 — his lightest weight in seven years; the Croatian is accustomed to fighting at super heavyweight throughout his amateur career.

The pair stood forehead-to-forehead exchanging swears and insults, before turning to pose for photos. Itauma then shoved the Croatian off-stage, with his opponent stumbling awkwardly.

Hrgovic spoke just four simple words in his successful attempt to get the Brit, who has only fought 31 professional rounds in his career, to snap, then turned back to slap Itauma after being shoved.

Hrgovic’s four-word comment that made Itauma snap revealed

Security intervened to pry the two men apart after the Croatian hit Itauma, as tensions boiled over in the venue.

Moments prior, Hrgovic looked his opponent down and said: “I’m the man… you’re just a little kid,” as Itauma edged nearer to snapping.

Then the Croatian, rather plainly, told Itauma: “I’ll f****** smash you,” to which the Brit told him they’d soon see ahead of their fight at the O2 this evening.

Seconds later, the pair’s face-off ceased, having been given the nod to pose for pre-clash photographs, then Itauma shoved his opponent firmly.

Hrgovic was sent spiralling off-stage, then slapped his opponent. After the face-off, the Croatian affirmed that he had only hit Itauma in retaliation, as “he started it.”

The 21-year-old, meanwhile, confessed that the veteran fighter had gotten under his skin, describing his outburst as “a little itch I had to scratch.”

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Hrgovic’s trash talk tactics have revolved heavily around Itauma’s age and inexperience, with a 13-year age difference between the pair — the Croatian has called him a “kid” extensively.

If Itauma is to become the second-youngest heavyweight in boxing history, he will need to restrain the emotions he not only showed on stage, but in confessions made to the press.

"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," said the 21-year-old.

"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,” Itauma concluded.

The pair are expected to make their ring walks this evening at 10:30pm BST, with history on the line for both competitors.