Daniel Dubois delivers final verdict on ‘animal’ Filip Hrgovic vs Moses Itauma after facing Hrgovic

Having previously shared the ring with Filip Hrgovic, WBO world champion Daniel Dubois looks forward to seeing whether Moses Itauma can tame ‘El Animal’.

The pair are approaching their O2 Arena clash next Saturday, bidding to claim the vacant IBF title which, along with two other belts, was relinquished by Oleksandr Usyk in June.

If he emerges victorious, Itauma will become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson emphatically dethroned Trevor Berbick in 1986.

But while the rising prodigy has been made a sizable favourite, it must be said that Hrgovic is a considerable step-up from his last opponent, Jermaine Franklin, who he stopped in five rounds when they collided in March.

In fact, many felt the Croatian was winning his encounter with Dubois, only for several cuts to open up and rule him out of entering the ninth round of their 2024 contest.

As a result, Dubois won by eighth-round stoppage and went on to become a two-time world champion, while Hrgovic is still yet to get his hands on a major belt.

This time around, though, Dubois has told Frank Warren’s Queensberry that he does not rule out either man having his hand raised.

“I’ve shared the ring with Hrgovic; he’s a great fighter. Tough, animal type of guy. Experienced. It’s going to be a [great] fight [with] Itauma.

“I’m definitely going to be watching and I think the whole division – the whole world – is going to be watching. It’s a great dustup – let’s see what Moses can do.”

While stopping short of giving a prediction, Dubois clearly feels that Hrgovic is posed to offer Itauma his most challenging assignment thus far.