‘Give me some props’ – Moses Itauma snaps at Filip Hrgovic’s ‘disrespect’ in heated exchange ahead of world title fight

MOSES ITAUMA snapped at Filip Hrgovic for disrespecting his career. The 21-year-old British prodigy bids to become a world heavyweight champion when he takes on Hrgovic for the vacant IBF title on August 29. Moses Itauma snapped at Filip Hrgovic for disrespecting his career Credit: DAZN Hrgovic was involved in a heated exchange with Itauma Credit: DAZN But the war of words has already begun as Hrgovic questioned Itauma’s credentials as an amateur and young professional. He said on the DAZN Face Off: “I think you didn’t have any elite fight, right? In elite levels? Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! “Straight from youth level to professional boxing, and he fought no one in professional boxing. So of course he doesn’t have experience.” But Itauma hit back: “You’re disrespecting Demsey McKean, I wouldn’t say Dillian Whyte, I wouldn’t say Jermaine Franklin are nobodies. “I mean Demsey McKean took you a number of rounds. Come on, you’re disrespecting my opponents now. “You’re disrespecting Dillian Whyte, you’re disrespecting Demsey McKean.” Hrgovic, who KO’d McKean in round 12, quipped: “Man, Dillian Whyte was over the hill, everyone knows that. “[Jermaine] Franklin came totally unprepared. So over the hill, he’s old already. So they are good names, but over the hill.” Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring. The Gypsy King has beaten Mariusz Wach in his second fight of the year to set up a huge fight with Anthony Joshua And AJ did the same, knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a thrilling encounter – the Brit was knocked down twice in the opening round. Now fans are looking forward to Moses Itauma’s return for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August. Here’s all the big fights coming up… August Sat 15 – Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott – DAZN Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic - all the info Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic face off for the IBF heavyweight world title Hrgovic – whose only defeat came in 2024 to Daniel Dubois – then claimed Slovak-born Itauma has been pushed more because he is a British fighter. He said: “If I was British you were boxing on my undercard. Imagine if you didn’t come to Great Britain. Where you from, from Slovakia, right? “Imagine if you stayed in Slovakia. No one would ever heard of you, man. So you’re from Great Britain, you got everything. “I was Youth World Champion myself, but no one didn’t give a s*** about me because I was Croatian, you know. So it’s different. “I don’t disrespect you, this is just the truth. You know, it’s different when you come from Croatia and when you come from Great Britain. “This is the biggest boxing country in the world. So it’s easy for you guys to make superstars, but that’s the truth. “I’m not disrespecting you, but that’s the truth.” Itauma then said: “What I’m trying to say is give me some props.” Unfazed, Hrgovic replied: “I don’t give you any props.” And Itauma responded: “Fine. Then you’re gonna find out.” But Hrgovic responded: “Yes, of course. We’ll see. But I don’t, I’m not buying that story, that hype. I’m not buying that.” Comment now