Audley Harrison has launched a scathing attack on Moses Itauma's promoter and team, claiming they have ruined the 21-year-old's professional boxing career.
The British Olympic gold medallist had previously warned Queensberry supremo Frank Warren not to rush the Briton into the world title picture, saying Itauma, for all of his talents, wasn't yet equipped to deal with the blue-riband division's big boys.
Harrison was ultimately proved right when Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic tore up the script at London's O2 Arena last month to inflict a first career defeat upon the highly-regarded southpaw.
Despite being well behind on all three of the ringside judges' cards, Hrgovic capitalised on his clearly exhausted opponent, ultimately making his pressure count midway through the ninth round when the referee was forced to step in and wave the contest off with Itauma backed up against the ropes.
The result sent shockwaves through the boxing world, although for Harrison, it came as absolutely no surprise.
"I am not happy that I was right," he has posted on his official X channel.
You had a great prospect, a great kid, they all got caught up in the hype and they just f***ing ruined a great prospect. No way should he have been challenging for a world title that soon.
- Audley Harrison (X)
"Okay, they went for greatness, but once you go up to that level you can’t come back down, it was too early for him.
"I am trying to tell people like, once he goes into the deep end, it is going to be a problem because we don’t know how he swims yet and they were all getting caught up in the hype!"
He added: "Come on guys! You have got to know boxing, it’s crazy. Commiserations. Well done Filip Hrgovic, we knew what he was going to do, well done!"
Itauma, who would have become the heavyweight division's second youngest world champion had he have won, immediately lobbied for a rematch, although it's understood his hopes of a second crack at the IBF belt will be in vain.
Instead, Hrgovic is expected to undertake a mandatory defence of his belt against Cuba's Frank Sanchez -- a bout that is likely to take place on Croatian soil next year.
