“That I'm afraid?” Itauma said on talkSPORT Boxing.
After repeating the question, the 21-year-old interrupted again.
“Did you say you were scared?”
Itauma finally answered that he sees boxing as a puzzle and believes that proper preparation can solve any challenge in front of him. However, what stood out was what happened next.
The conversation had passed, but Itauma returned to the subject again.
“No, I'm just shocked that you said that.” Itauma told the hosts.
For a fighter who is often measured and named during interviews, the exchange was remarkable. Itauma had no problem discussing Hrgovic's achievements, hailing the Croatian as one of the best heavyweights out there and detailing his achievements on his CV. However, the suggestion that he might be afraid of rivals, seemed to strike a different chord.
Whether it was surprise, pride, or just plain disbelief, Itauma seemed unwilling to let the word pass without mentioning it several times.
For an undefeated heavyweight who prides himself on supreme confidence personified, just hearing the word “fear” associated with his name was a major shake-up in his system. If he wasn't bothering, he would have just laughed at himself, given a quick answer saying “I'm not afraid of anyone,” and the interview continued.
Instead, see how he reacted:
- He fainted and made the host repeat the question twice just to make sure he heard it right.
- He gave his usual, PR-friendly response about the iron fist, which sounded like a self-defense mechanism to regain control of his thoughts.
- The biggest gift was that he brought it back after the topic had changed.
That last part is the smoking gun. It means that this question has been busy in his mind while they were talking about something else. He couldn't let it go because his pride got the better of him. He wanted to make it clear to the hosts, and anyone listening, that even suggesting he felt fear was foolish.
It goes to show that even though he may look at opponents as sleazy, he's still a very proud 21-year-old fighter, and the media can get under his skin if they hit the right muscle.
When undefeated hope is built as the next big thing, they start living in a bubble where everyone tells them they are invincible. Itauma has been tearing through opponents, and the media has been hailing him as the savior of the heavyweight division. In his mind, he is a great hunter.
So when a reporter asks him if he is afraid of someone, he completely destroys that narrative. It forces him to look at himself through a normal, human lens, and his ego couldn't process it. To him, the question itself was an insult because it implied that he was in danger.
Itauma could not cope with the disruption of his image of superior governance. That's exactly the inability to let a little thought go. He had to go back to it because his pride had taken root, proving that despite all the talk, he is still human and can definitely be undone.
The timing is interesting given the dynamics surrounding the war. Hrgovic has spent much of the promotion fighting the notion that he is simply a stepping stone for a fast-rising heavyweight. Itauma, on the other hand, seems equally resistant to any suggestion that another heavyweight could take up space in his mind as an icon to be feared.
Their showdown on August 29 at the O2 Arena in London will determine which fighter's confidence is worth it. Hrgovic believes he will debunk the hype surrounding the young striker, while Itauma has made it clear he sees the Croatian as another hurdle to overcome rather than someone to worry about.
