{"id":865233,"date":"2026-08-23T06:38:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T06:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/865233\/"},"modified":"2026-08-23T06:38:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T06:38:22","slug":"daniel-dubois-delivers-final-verdict-on-animal-filip-hrgovic-vs-moses-itauma-after-facing-hrgovic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/865233\/","title":{"rendered":"Daniel Dubois delivers final verdict on ‘animal’ Filip Hrgovic vs Moses Itauma after facing Hrgovic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having previously shared the ring with Filip Hrgovic<\/a>, WBO world champion Daniel Dubois<\/a> looks forward to seeing whether Moses Itauma<\/a> can tame \u2018El Animal\u2019.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> in June.<\/p>\n

If he emerges victorious, Itauma will become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson<\/a> emphatically dethroned Trevor Berbick in 1986.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

This time around, though, Dubois has told Frank Warren\u2019s Queensberry<\/a> that he does not rule out either man having his hand raised.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve shared the ring with Hrgovic; he\u2019s a great fighter. Tough, animal type of guy. Experienced. It\u2019s going to be a [great] fight [with] Itauma.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m definitely going to be watching and I think the whole division \u2013 the whole world \u2013 is going to be watching. It\u2019s a great dustup \u2013 let\u2019s see what Moses can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

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