IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic told Ariel Helwani that Moses Itauma may be the best he has fought, though Daniel Dubois and others hit harder.
What we know
- Filip Hrgovic is the IBF heavyweight champion after stopping Moses Itauma in nine rounds in August
- Hrgovic told Ariel Helwani that Itauma is maybe the best fighter he has faced
- Hrgovic said Dubois, David Adeleye and Zhilei Zhang all hit him harder than Itauma
- Dubois stopped Hrgovic in round eight in 2024 after cuts over both eyes
IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic has named Moses Itauma as possibly the best opponent of his career, even though the man he dethroned in August was not the biggest puncher he has faced.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, the Croatian praised Itauma's speed, timing and ring IQ: "He's maybe the best who I fought. The quickest guy, the best IQ, the best timing and speed." He added that he absorbed harder shots from Daniel Dubois, David Adeleye and Zhilei Zhang.
Hrgovic won the title with a ninth-round stoppage of Itauma despite an early knockdown and being outboxed for much of the fight. His 2024 fight with Dubois was closer, but he was stopped in the eighth round after cuts over both eyes made it unsafe to continue. Dubois has since become a two-time world champion and has stopped Fabio Wardley twice.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, the Croatian praised Itauma's speed, timing and ring IQ: "He's maybe the best who I fought. The quickest guy, the best IQ, the best timing and speed." He added that he absorbed harder shots from Daniel Dubois, David Adeleye and Zhilei Zhang.
Hrgovic won the title with a ninth-round stoppage of Itauma despite an early knockdown and being outboxed for much of the fight. His 2024 fight with Dubois was closer, but he was stopped in the eighth round after cuts over both eyes made it unsafe to continue. Dubois has since become a two-time world champion and has stopped Fabio Wardley twice.
- Summary
- IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic told Ariel Helwani that Moses Itauma may be the best he has fought, though Daniel Dubois and others hit harder.
- Key points (one per line)
- Hrgovic won the IBF heavyweight title in August by stopping Itauma in the ninth round
He rated Itauma's speed, timing and boxing IQ above anyone he has faced
He said he took harder punches from Dubois, David Adeleye and Zhilei Zhang
Hrgovic was stopped by Dubois in round eight in 2024 after cuts over both eyes
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Boxing News | https://boxingnewsonline.net/news/filip-hrgovic-names-the-best-hes-faced/
Fighters in this story
Daniel Dubois
Moses Itauma
Filip HrgovicSources
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