Hrgovic slaps Itauma after being pushed off stage at weigh-in
Moses Itauma pushed Filip Hrgovic off the stage during a heated ceremonial weigh-in in London, prompting Hrgovic to return and slap the British heavyweight through security. The confrontation has intensified anticipation for their vacant IBF heavyweight title fight at the O2 Arena, where Itauma could become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history.
The pair exchanged insults before the incident, with Itauma later saying he “lost it a little bit”, while Hrgovic said he was responding after being pushed. Hrgovic weighed 16st 12lb (107kg), his lightest in seven years, and Itauma weighed 17st 4lb (110kg); Itauma is unbeaten in 14 professional fights with 12 stoppages, while Hrgovic has one defeat in 21 bouts.
- Itauma pushed Hrgovic off the weigh-in stage.
- Hrgovic responded by slapping Itauma.
- They fight for the vacant IBF heavyweight title.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Hrgovic’s strongest case is that being pushed off the stage was a physical provocation, and his slap was an immediate, limited response in a tense exchange rather than an unprompted attack. He may also argue that the incident should be understood in the context of both fighters trading insults and the charged setting of a title-fight weigh-in.
The case against
Itauma’s strongest case is that the slap was an unnecessary escalation, regardless of the push, and that a professional boxer should show restraint when tensions rise in a public event. He may argue that Hrgovic could have stepped away or let security handle the situation, rather than responding physically and heightening the confrontation.