While the boxing world might be enamoured with the potential of young heavyweight star Moses Itauma, his next opponent, Filip Hrgovic, has been far less complimentary.

They will fight on August 29 at London’s O2 Arena in a bout that represents a significant step up for the 21-year-old 14-0 (12 KOs) Itauma.

Hrgovic is 20-1 (15 KOs) but he’s a former Olympic medallist who’s been boxing at world level for years.

“He’s done well,” Hrgovic said of his burgeoning foe.

“But I’m not so impressed because, for example, I was also a youth world champion like him. Then I went to WSB [World Series of Boxing], to elite level. No one cared. I feel like he got everything on the plate. Youth world champion, boom. Queensberry contract, building him, making him in 14 fights into a big star.

“I think when you’re a Great Britain fighter, it’s much easier. You have everything. You got a great coach, good manager, good promoter. You have everything. I was youth world champion. No one cared. 

“I think it’s a big difference if you come from a small country. If you come from Great Britain, you got everything on the plate. So I’m not impressed. I’m impressed with my path more than him because you need a lot of toughness to endure what I endure. And to go this way alone, without brother, without father, without anyone in family. I need to do everything by myself. 

“Without any knowledge about boxing in your country [Croatia], without any tradition. You can’t ask anyone anything about business, about sport. There’s not a lot of general knowledge of boxing. So I needed to do everything by myself. And I’m more impressed with my way than his.

“For example, I was 19 years old [when] I boxed in London seven rounds, the final of WSB league with a hard guy. That guy is probably better than [Jermaine] Franklin, than [Dillian] Whyte [Itauma’s last two opponents]. I boxed WSB 30 fights with killers, with Cubans, with Russians, with world champions, Olympic champions. No one cared.

“So why would I be impressed with Moses Itauma when I have 10 times harder path? And, you know, I’m not impressed, man. I’m not impressed with him.”