“I don’t believe he has it,” Hrgovic told The Stomping Ground when asked if Itauma was willing to “die in the ring.”
“From the beginning, I don’t see him as a fighter. He’s a good fighter, skilled, talented. He has physical talent, but the way he looks, the way he talks, I just don’t see him as a tough guy.
“I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, but when I see him, I just don’t see a fighter. I see a normal guy.”
Hrgovic made it clear that he respects what Itauma has accomplished inside the ring, but believes that the unanswered questions only begin once a fighter is forced into adversity.
“Up until now he’s done perfectly. He’s beaten all the guys he’s faced. But the question is how will he react when he’s in trouble?” Hrgovic said. “Does he have great stamina, great chin, great will, determination? We’ll see.”
The Croatian believes he will be the first opponent to force Itauma into those situations.
“When I connect, when I don’t back up, when I put the pressure, when it goes to deeper rounds, when he catches me with a good shot and I just come forward, it’s all new to him,” says Hrgovic about his plans to test Itauma.
Hrgovic also contrasted his own path to the top with Itauma’s, arguing that British fighters receive more support than those from smaller boxing nations.
“I respect my journey a lot more. Compared to my journey, it’s nothing. I feel like he was given everything on the table,” Hrgovic said. “Everyone trains hard, but it’s different when you come from a small country and have to learn the business yourself, without managers or coaches helping you.”
Hrgovic (19-1, 15 KOs) meets Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) on August 29 at the O2 Arena in London. The winner is expected to move into position for a shot at the WBO heavyweight title, provided Daniel Dubois defeats Lawrence Okolie in their scheduled title defense.
