2026-08-27 08:54:57
Moses Itauma is a “million times better” than Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, according to the former world champion Prince Naseem Hamed.
The rising heavyweight star takes on Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF world title belt at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday (29.08.26) and Hamed has backed him to surpass the achievements of the former world champions.
The former featherweight world champion told BBC Sport: “Moses is on another level to the likes of Tyson Fury and Tyson would say that himself. Tyson would not want to fight Moses and neither would Joshua.
“If they did I would say they are very brave.”
Hamed added: “I think Tyson Fury was amazing for British boxing and what he achieved, what he did and brought to the game and how colourful he was as a personality.
“I think Joshua did an amazing job early in his career to win a world title and be an ambassador for British boxing.
“[But] I can’t compare Moses. He is a million times better than them.”
Itauma, 21, will become Britain’s youngest-ever heavyweight world champion should he beat Hrgovic but Hamed – who became Britain’s youngest world title winner at the same age in 1995 – is more interested in seeing the “special” pugilist live up to his potential.
He said: “Winning a national title as an amateur aged 11 and then having in your head all the way through your amateur career that you’ll be world champion at 21 – I visualised that. I think it’s very much the same for Moses.
“I’m so confident that Moses is going to be the heavyweight champion of the world. I’m so confident that he’ll defend that belt for as long as he wants.”
Hrgovic is a former Olympic bronze medallist and has only lost once in his career, but Hamed thinks the fight will be straightforward for Itauma.
He said: “On paper it’s a test but I don’t think the night that we watch it it will be a test.
“I think it’s going to be one of Moses’ easiest nights of his career and he’ll win a world title.”
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