Filip Hrgovic fears cuts could lead to defeat against Moses Itauma

Filip Hrgovic has admitted that the possibility of facial cuts is the one factor he fears ahead of his heavyweight bout against Moses Itauma. The Croatian fighter noted that while he is not intimidated by the speed or power of his opponent, the risk of a ringside doctor stopping a fight due to bleeding is a genuine concern.

This vulnerability stems from Hrgovic's recent history in the ring. During his 2024 IBF title fight against Daniel Dubois, a ringside doctor stopped the contest in the eighth round after inspecting damage around his eyes. Similar issues with cuts occurred during his subsequent victories over Joe Joyce, David Adeleye, and Dave Allen.

Hrgovic stated that he cannot use willpower to close an open cut and must rely on the medical official's decision to continue. He expects Itauma to land heavy shots, but he believes the physical sensitivity of his skin is the most unpredictable element of the matchup.

The fight is scheduled for August 29 at London’s O2 Arena as part of a Queensberry Promotions pay-per-view event. Originally planned as a non-title contest, the bout was upgraded to a fight for the vacant IBF heavyweight title after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his belts in June.

The winner of this encounter will be required to face mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, who accepted a step-aside fee following negotiations involving promoter Frank Warren. If Itauma secures a victory, particularly via a stoppage, he will become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick in 1986.