Moses Itauma calls for Filip Hrgovic showdown as he plots heavyweight world title path

Hard-hitting heavyweight Moses Itauma has revealed that his preferential path to a world title would include a showdown with Filip Hrgovic as opposed to Martin Bakole.

The Queensberry star's stock has rocketed over the past 12 months with many pundits and experts predicting the Slovakian-born Briton will go on to unify titles in the illustrious blue-riband division.

Itauma's journey continues in Glasgow on Saturday night when he takes on former NFL linebacker Mike Balogun on the undercard of Josh Taylor v Ekow Essuman.

The 20-year-old is expected to steamroll through the experienced American north of the border, with more telling tests likely to be rolled out for him in the coming months.

Bakole, who was one of the most avoided heavyweights in the sport prior to his loss to Joseph Parker earlier this year, had been touted as a potential opponent by Itauma's promoter Frank Warren, although the fighter himself said he'd prefer to avoid a clash with the Congolese.

"Martin Bakole, not so much, Filip Hrgović, yes," he answered when asked by DAZN who he'd like to face next.

"The reason I say Martin Bakole no more is because Martin Bakole was a boogeyman, then he got knocked out by Joseph Parker and it’s brought him back a bit.

Then he didn’t have the best performance against Efe Ajagba and that’s brought him back a little bit more. I just feel that if I fight him then that could give him a reason to top himself back up, when I don’t need to be that person.

- Moses Itauma on Martin Bakole (DAZN)

"If he reclaims the person that he once was, the boogeyman of the division, then the fight with him would make sense. But why would you fight him on zero? You want him to rebuild himself."

He added: "Hrgović, it’s a different term. I think my team are keen to fight Hrgović, but they want to see me in a 10-round fight first."

Itauma had originally been expected to face a bigger name opponent this month but Queensberry revealed that discussions for that showdown had broken down earlier this year.

A lack of willing opponents have since stepped forward to tackle Itauma, who is widely-regarded as one of the most dangerous heavyweights on the planet, leading to his forthcoming clash with 41-year-old Balogun.

"The only reason we’re here is no one else will take the fight; he’s obviously the opponent I’ve got and I want to showcase my talent," he answered when asked as to why the American has been lined-up to face him.

"Everyone’s expecting me to blow you out, and I guess I will, but it’s the fact that if I don’t knock him out there’s a question mark. It puts pressure on me, but I like it.

"When you put pressure on people, that’s when you grow, so I’m looking forward to this. Everyone is here to watch Josh Taylor and Ekow Essuman [in the main event], so I’m gonna make it a quick one."

Mark Mothershaw

• Queensberry
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