Hrgovic slaps Itauma: Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic came to blows on the stage, as tempers boiled over following a tense weigh-in ahead of the world heavyweight title fight.
Itauma faces Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight world title at the O2 Arena on Saturday, live on DAZN pay-per-view.
Hrgovic has branded Itauma a “kid” throughout the build-up, although the 21-year-old has remained relatively calm amid the persistent jibes.
However, the Kent man’s patience ran out following the weigh in at Old Spitalfields Market in London.
The visitor tipped the scales at 236.2lbs, before home favourite Itauma weighed in at 236.lbs.
Hrgovic slaps Itauma
The pair then went head-to-head for the final time, exchanging words back-and-forth.
As Hrgovic flexed for the cameras, his rival shoved him and the 34-year-old fell off the stage. The Croatian then retaliated slapping the Brit, before security separated them from any further confrontation.
“I just tell him what’s going to happen, I’ll smash him,” Hrgovic said. “He pushed me first so I just give him back, you know. He started. [The fight is] going to be tough.”
A shot at history
Hrgovic slaps Itauma may have made headlines this week, but the man on the receiving end still has bigger business to attend to. Itauma will make history by becoming the second youngest heavyweight champion behind Mike Tyson, if he defeats Hrgovic.
“I don’t know, I just lost it a little bit,” he said following the brawl. “But we’re here now, we’re here. Let’s go.
“I had a little itch and I just had to scratch it.”
The scenes of Hrgovic slapping Itauma at the Itauma Hrgovic weigh-in were a striking contrast from a relatively subdued final press conference on Thursday. Itauma refused to take the bait, as Hrgovic goaded him.
“I just tell you what I think,” he quipped. “He’s a kid, he’s not mature enough. I think I’m the man. I’m a much better age, much more experienced. That’s it.
“I will smash the kid on Saturday and I’ll send him back to high school.
“No-one ever knocked me out any time in my life. I only got stopped by [Daniel] Dubois because of cuts and I was in terrible shape because of sickness.”
Itauma weighed in just heavier than the 241.1lbs he came in his fifth round win over Jermaine Franklin in March. Meanwhile, Hrgovic weighed in 12.2 pounds lighter than he came in prior to his third round win over Dave Allen in May – a leaner frame for the man who slapped Itauma just a day out from the biggest fight of both their careers
