Heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma has said Filip Hrgovic's pre-fight taunts are beginning to get under his skin ahead of their IBF heavyweight world title bout at the O2 Arena on Saturday. Itauma, 21, is the favourite to win and would become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history behind Mike Tyson, but Hrgovic has sought to unsettle him with jibes calling him a "kid" and "inexperienced". The war of words highlights the contrast between the unbeaten young Briton's rapid rise and the more experienced Croatian's attempts to disrupt his composure before a major title fight.

Itauma, who turned professional less than four years ago and has won all 14 of his fights, said Hrgovic's comments, including a claim that he "hugs trees" in the morning, were "starting to annoy" him, though he insisted the Croatian's confidence issues were behind the taunts. Hrgovic, 13 years his senior, argued that victory could damage Itauma psychologically, suggesting fame might cause him to "lose his soul", and that losing would be the better outcome for him. Itauma dismissed the idea, saying he had no intention of letting the fight go for the sake of his "soul".