World heavyweight title prospect Moses Itauma warned talk is cheap after Filip Hrgović promised to “smash the kid” and “send him back to high school.”
The IBF belt relinquished by Oleksandr Usyk will be on the line at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday and 21-year-old Itauma could become the second-youngest heavyweight champion of all time.
Croatian rival Hrgović will be the toughest challenge of Itauma’s fledgling career and has been disparaging about the British fighter in the build-up, which continued on Thursday where more jibes were thrown at the southpaw.
Asked if Hrgović had got under his skin, Itauma said: “Nah man. At the end of the day talk is cheap. He has just got schoolboy banter and that’s it. You’ve got to keep rolling.”
Olympic bronze medallist Hrgović hit back: “I am just telling you facts.
“I am not playing any games. I just tell you want I think in the moment. Like I said, I am not so smart to play these mind games.
“I think he is a kid, he is not mature enough and I think I am the man. I am a much better age, much more experience and yeah, that is it. No mind games.
“God willing you know I will beat him, I’ll smash the kid on Saturday and send him back to high school.”
As has been Itauma’s manner during his rise in the blue-riband division, the IBF contender was calmness personified and refused to engage with the 34-year-old.
“I want to first address that I am not trying to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion of the world, I am trying to beat Filip Hrgović,” Itauma explained.
“Obviously the world title is an achievement and an accolade. And that is a plus one, but my sole focus is Hrgović.
“If I ain’t going to beat Hrgović, it doesn’t matter about the world title and it doesn’t matter about the noise or nothing. My job is to be victorious on fight night.
“I am ready to rock and roll.”
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