Karol Itauma has total confidence “special” younger brother Moses Itauma will take another big challenge in his stride and overcome Filip Hrgovic at O2 Arena on Saturday night.
A slice of history will be on the line when Itauma walks out to headline in London for the first time with the IBF world heavyweight belt up for grabs.
Chatham southpaw Itauma can become the second youngest world heavyweight champion of all-time after Mike Tyson, but the 21-year-old will have to make up a big gulf in experience against veteran opponent Hrgovic.
Hrgovic boasts the better amateur career, more rounds, more fights and the greater age than young prospect Itauma, who has been described by Queensberry promoter Frank Warren as the “hottest property” of the blue-riband division.
Undefeated Itauma will get the chance to prove it on Saturday night and his brother has talked up the dedication of the IBF contender.
“When it comes to Moses, a lot of people are outcome-driven. A lot of people think about, ‘I need to get there, I need to do this, I need this to happen,’ whereas the difference with my brother and them is he is process-driven,” Karol Itauma told Press Association earlier this month.
“He focuses on the process and ensures all the tactics, all the training and the whole process is spot on because the byproduct of getting those things right is the outcome you desire.
“And that is what I have noticed in him. He is very, very locked in on the process himself.
“Boxing is a tough sport, end of, and you don’t only have to worry about preparing yourself physically, but preparing yourself mentally and not only with your opponent but by the other people that have an opinion about you or say this.
“The fact my brother has headlined in Riyadh at the age of 20 against Dillian Whyte, headlined in Manchester Arena in his last fight (against Jermaine Franklin) and is now headlining O2 Arena, he is taking it all in his own stride and capitalising on every single opportunity.
“He is a special individual in that sense and he has got a mature head on his shoulders when it comes to handling boxing and navigating the kind of way he needs to be. He has been doing it since he was nine years old.
“It is a testament to his hard work, dedication and perseverance over the years. Now he is enjoying and walking in the fruits of his labour.”
Former Great Britain amateur boxer Karol Itauma had been on a similar path in the sport until he had to quit boxing after a heart attack in 2024.
It left the 25-year-old in a “deep hole”, but he has since thrown himself into different business ventures and created private members-only health and performance Club Eight 3, which will open next month and is based at Chatham Maritime.
“All of a sudden your identity has been stripped back and the person you identified as you can no longer be,” Karol Itauma said.
“Then it was, ‘can I achieve that end goal and vision I visualised in another avenue?’
“Then it was identifying what that other avenue is and Club Eight 3 is the beginning of that journey and dream.”
