“I think, with respect to Filip Hrgovic, that Moses Itauma is going to go through him early in the fight. I think he’s going to knock him out inside four rounds,” Jordan said on talkSPORT. “I think you’re going to see the crowning of the next heavyweight champion of the world that potentially could preside over the division for a significant period of time.”

Jordan compared Itauma’s menace and ability with Mike Tyson, although he conceded that the prospect “hasn’t really beaten anyone yet.” He dismissed Jermaine Franklin as a durability opponent and described Dillian Whyte as a faded version of the fighter who once met Anthony Joshua.

Hrgovic is therefore being asked to validate a conclusion that has already been reached. Itauma’s chin remains untested, but Jordan still treated an early knockout as almost inevitable.

That is precisely why Hrgovic understands his role. Queensberry did not choose him because it sees him as the division’s most dangerous contender. His ranking, established name and visible weaknesses make him valuable as the fighter Itauma is supposed to destroy.

Filip Hrgovic Knows He Was Handpicked To Lose

Filip Hrgovic knows why Queensberry selected him to fight Moses Itauma. He is an established 34-year-old heavyweight with enough credibility to make Itauma’s vacant IBF title win look important, but enough visible flaws to make the risk acceptable.

This is not neutral matchmaking. Queensberry has invested heavily in Itauma and wants to crown him as Britain’s next heavyweight star on August 29 at London’s O2 Arena. Hrgovic has been brought in to supply the name, the Olympic medal and the illusion of danger.

“The whole world underestimated me. Everyone thinks I am just another step for him to become a champion. He is the star. Everyone wants me, and they invited me there to lose. I am aware of that,” Hrgovic said in a DAZN Boxing training feature. “They want to build him. He should be the new star. He is the guy the whole world is talking about, but plans can change quickly in the ring.”

The Croatian has read the situation correctly. He was not chosen despite looking flawed against Zhilei Zhang, Daniel Dubois and David Adeleye. He was chosen because of it.

If Hrgovic had steamrolled those three heavyweights, there is virtually no chance Queensberry would place Itauma in the ring with him. A dominant, physically imposing Hrgovic would be far too dangerous for a 21-year-old who has never completed seven professional rounds.

The pattern surfaced against Zhang in 2022. He hurt Hrgovic, forced him backward and came close to getting the decision. Dubois later applied sustained pressure, repeatedly found him with power punches and stopped him on cuts.

Another warning followed against Adeleye last August when he nearly finished Hrgovic during the eighth round. Hrgovic had just dropped him, yet seconds later he was trapped against the ropes, taking clean punches and looking ready to go.

That fight probably completed Queensberry’s evaluation. Adeleye is a domestic-level heavyweight who had already been knocked out by Fabio Wardley. If he could place Hrgovic in that condition, the people guiding Itauma had every reason to believe their faster and more powerful fighter could do worse.

Those performances are the reason this fight is taking place. Hrgovic retains enough name value for an Itauma victory to mean something, but his weaknesses are visible enough for Queensberry to believe it knows the outcome.

There is still one part of the plan that has not been tested. Itauma’s last five opponents survived a combined six rounds. Smashing stationary heavyweights early has told us little about how he reacts when someone survives, leans on him and forces him to work.

Starting quickly and testing Itauma immediately is Hrgovic’s plan. That may put him directly in range of the younger fighter’s best punches, but cautiously surrendering rounds in London would be no better.

The intended result is obvious. Hrgovic is there to become Itauma’s first important knockout victim. His opportunity lies in surviving long enough to turn a carefully arranged coronation into a real fight.