Moses Itauma competes in his toughest test yet as he takes on Filip Hrgovic next month, and former WBA featherweight world champion Barry McGuigan has made a knockout prediction that could leave him ‘eating his words’.

Itauma has blitzed through almost every opponent in his 14-fight career thus far, working his way into world title contention at the age of just 21 years old.

Now, it seems as though the youngster is just one win away from a world title shot, where he could potentially become the second-youngest heavyweight ruler of all time.

Speaking with TalkSPORT, McGuigan praised the talent of boxing’s hottest prospect, declaring that Itauma is the ‘best heavyweight that he has seen in a long, long time,’.

“I have seen him [Moses] spar with Dubois when he came into the gym, he was so good. OK, he only done three rounds and got out, but still he looked so impressive and Dubois is such a banger; such a powerful, strong, explosive puncher. I watched this kid and went, ‘wow, where the hell did he come out of?’. 

“He won the world under-19’s as an amateur, Frank [Warren] got him at the right time because nobody had heard about him and he invested money in him and said that this is the guy to have. He is the best heavyweight that I have seen in a long, long time.”

McGuigan then went on to predict another emphatic win for the Kent-based phenomenon, forecasting a quick triumph that would see Hrgovic defeated for the second time in his career.

“I know that Hrgovic is incredibly tough and there is every chance that I could be eating my words if he blows out after six rounds and Hrgovic is still coming on, Hrgovic could win. But, I don’t think that is going to happen.

“I think he [Itauma] is going to get him out and get him out early.”

Itauma-Hrgovic takes place on Saturday, August 29, at the O2 Arena, with Sam Noakes, Constantin Ursu and Aloys Youmbi scheduled to compete on the undercard.