Moses Itauma’s Biggest Questions May Finally Get Answered

“We’re going to find out just how good Moses Itauma is. I don’t think Moses will go out there and wipe this guy out just like that. Two, three, four rounds. Can’t see it happening because this is for the vacant heavyweight championship of the world,” McKenzie said to talkSPORT Boxing. “As you know, Hrgovic takes a shot. If he can get over them early rounds and get Itauma into fours and fives and sixes and later on into that fight, we’re going to find out a lot about Moses in this fight.”

Itauma has stopped each of his last seven opponents, leaving little opportunity to evaluate how he performs when a fight stretches into the second half. McKenzie expects the Croatian’s resilience to push the 21-year-old farther than anyone else has managed, forcing him to rely on his stamina, adaptability and composure under sustained pressure.

“He may have to dig deep. He may have to show some character, and that’s what we haven’t seen so far. He also might have to show that engine,” McKenzie said. “He might have to go into the last round. One thing you can say about Filip Hrgovic is he’s durable. He’s tough. If the cuts hold up from Filip Hrgovic, he has the durability to take Moses into those later rounds, and then it becomes interesting.”

If Hrgovic succeeds in dragging the contest into the later rounds, the bout may reveal far more about Itauma than another quick stoppage. A victory would move the British heavyweight to the top of the IBF division, but McKenzie believes the greater takeaway will be seeing how Itauma performs when his usual formula no longer produces an early finish.