Boxing
Moses Itauma interrupts the interview twice after being asked about fear
– Is that what I’m afraid of? Itauma said to talkSPORT Boxing.
After repeating the question, the 21-year-old paused again.
“Did you say fear?”
Itauma finally responded, saying that he viewed boxing as a puzzle and believed that proper preparation could solve any challenge facing him. But what was most striking was what happened next.
The conversation had already flowed, but Itauma returned to the topic once again.
“No, I’m just shocked that you said that,– Itauma told the hosts.
For a player who is usually measured and composed in interviews, this exchange was noteworthy. Itauma had no problem discussing Hrgovic’s strengths, praising the Croatian as one of the best heavyweights available and describing the achievements on his resume. However, the suggestion that he might be afraid of his opponent seemed to strike a different chord.
Whether it was surprise, pride, or straightforward disbelief, Itauma didn’t want to let that word pass without referring to it a few times.
For an undefeated heavyweight who prides himself on being the epitome of supreme self-confidence, just hearing the word “fear” associated with his name was a huge shock to his system. If it didn’t bother him, he would have just laughed, replied quickly, “I’m not afraid of any man,” and let the interview continue.
Instead, look at how he reacted:
- He completely froze and told the host to repeat the question twice to make sure he heard correctly.
- He gave his standard PR-friendly answer that boxing was a conundrum that seemed like a defense mechanism to regain control of his thoughts.
- The biggest advantage is that he came back to this topic after the topic had already changed.
This last part is the smoking gun. This means that the question was actively floating around in his head while they were talking about something else. He couldn’t let go because his pride was hurt. He wanted to make it clear to the hosts and anyone listening that even suggesting he felt fear was absurd.
It shows that while he may see his opponents as puzzles to solve, he’s still a 21-year-old fighter with a lot of pride, and the media can certainly get under his skin if they hit the right nerve.
When the prospect of being undefeated becomes the next massive thing, they start living in a bubble where everyone tells them they are undefeated. Itauma is tearing through his opponents and the media is treating him as the savior of the heavyweight division. In his opinion, he is the biggest predator.
So when a reporter asks him if he’s afraid of anyone, he completely undermines that narrative. It forces him to look at himself through a normal, human lens, and his ego simply cannot process it. To him, the question itself was an insult because it suggested he was vulnerable.
Itauma couldn’t bear to have his image of supreme dominance disturbed. It is exactly the same inability to let go of noticeable smallness. He had to come back to it because his pride was damaged, proving that despite all the hype, he is still human and can definitely be shaken.
The timing is engaging considering the dynamics surrounding the fight. For much of his career, Hrgovic has rejected the notion that he is merely a stepping stone for boxing’s fastest-rising heavyweight prospect. Meanwhile, Itauma seems equally resistant to any suggestion that another heavyweight might take the place in his mind as a feared figure.
Their fight on August 29 at London’s O2 Arena will decide which of the fighters is legitimate. Hrgovic believes he will reveal the hype surrounding the youngster, while Itauma has made it clear he sees the Croatian as another obstacle to solve rather than someone to worry about.
Las Vegas hosts Garcia’s first WBC welterweight title defense, with US and UK viewers facing very different fight-night hours.
Fight Prediction
Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn
Ryan Garcia50%
Conor Benn50%
Voting open • Opening line: 50%–50%
Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 11 p.m. ET on Saturday / 4 a.m. BST at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Garcia defends his WBC welterweight title on September 12, with Benn challenging for a world championship for the first time.
The main card starts at 8 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. BST on September 13. Preliminary action begins at 5 pm ET / 10 pm BST.
The projected Garcia-Benn ring-walk time can move depending on the length of the earlier fights and stoppages.
Where Is Garcia vs Benn Streaming?
Paramount+ streams Garcia-Benn live in the United States. UK and Ireland viewers can watch the event LIVE on DAZN PPV.
Garcia enters his first defense after outpointing Mario Barrios to capture the WBC belt in February. Benn secured his championship opportunity by beating Regis Prograis on points in April.
The challenger will have to cross dangerous ground to get his work done.
Benn wants to dig to the body and make Garcia exchange. Garcia has the counterpunching to punish a reckless approach, particularly with the left hook when Benn squares his feet coming forward.
Garcia can make Benn pay for forcing his way inside, while Benn needs to work without leaving himself planted in front of the champion after his combinations.
Jai Opetaia against Noel Mikaelian provides the cruiserweight co-feature. The card also includes Jose Ramirez against Alexis Rocha, Mark Magsayo against Andres Cortes and Sean Garcia against Abraham Morales.
For viewers primarily interested in the main event, 11 pm ET / 4 am BST is the current approximate target. Anyone wanting the complete card should be watching from 5 pm ET / 10 pm BST.
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Last Updated on 2026/09/12 at 8:31 AM
Conor Benn answered the biggest question surrounding his return to welterweight by weighing 146 pounds for Ryan Garcia, almost a full pound below the limit.
Benn left nothing to chance after months of questions over whether he could get back down to 147 pounds. But what happened after he stepped off the scales made the weight debate even more interesting.
DAZN reported Benn at 178.4 pounds after rehydrating, a staggering 32.4-pound difference from his official weight.
If accurate, the difference between Benn’s official and reported weights was more than 22 percent of his weigh-in body weight.
Benn Gains 32.4 Pounds
That’s where the real concern over Benn’s weight begins.
Coming in almost a full pound under the limit showed there was no appetite to take any chances by getting close to 147.
Questions had already been raised about what getting back down to welterweight would take.
Former opponent Regis Prograis previously said Benn “looks small” and hoped the weight was not “draining him already” after seeing his transformation ahead of the Garcia fight.
Those concerns were addressed when Benn stepped on the scales with room to spare. However, the DAZN figure showed the other side of making welterweight.
Zuffa Boxing received approval from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for an unusually early 9 a.m. PT official weigh-in, giving Benn and Garcia considerably more time to eat, drink, rehydrate and recover before fight night.
For Benn, DAZN’s reported second weight represented an extraordinary change from his official weigh-in figure.
Reaction was immediate. One commenter asked, “How is that possible to do after a couple of hours?” Another wanted someone to “explain how he gained 32 lbs in a few hours.”
Weight Cutting Dangers
Benn did nothing wrong. He made the contracted weight and did it comfortably.
The wider issue is what fighters continue to put their bodies through to make those limits.
The Association of Ringside Physicians has warned that rapid weight loss and dehydration can affect cardiovascular and neurological function, among other areas. The organization has also stated that proper rehydration can take hours or even days.
That warning puts Benn’s dramatic change into perspective. Fighters can make the required limit, begin replacing everything lost during the cut and enter the ring considerably heavier than they were on the official scales.
The early weigh-in gave Benn even more time to recover, but it does not change what his two reported weights say about the process required to compete at welterweight.
Benn did everything required of him and comfortably made the limit. The concern is how far fighters continue to push their bodies to get there in the first place.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.
WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) defends his title against Conor Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) this Saturday, September 12, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The match will headline a Mexican Independence weekend normally reserved for Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
For Conor, it’s his first fight at welterweight in more than four years. He last fought at welterweight against Chris Van Heerden in April of 2022. For Ryan, it’s his second welterweight bout after having defeated Mario Barrios in February of this year.
There was much back-and-forth about whether Benn would make the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, since he had fought Chris Eubank twice at 160 pounds and grown into the middleweight division. In his match in April against Regis Prograis, he trimmed down to 150 pounds, and based on his performance in that fight, many believed he would struggle to lose an additional three pounds for this one.
The official weigh-in took place this morning at the Meta Apex, and Conor Benn made weight, proving all the doubters wrong, weighing 146 pounds, while Ryan Garcia came in at 145.5 pounds.
Official Weigh-In Results:
12 Rounds — WBC Welterweight Championship Match: Ryan Garcia (145.5 lbs.) vs Conor Benn (146 lbs.)
12 Rounds — WBC/Zuffa/Ring Cruiserweight Championship Match: Jai Opetaia (199 lbs.) vs Noel Mikaelian (200 lbs.)
8 Rounds — Heavyweight: Da’Mazion Vanhouter (231.5 lbs.) vs Raphael Akpejiori (246 lbs.)
10 Rounds — Lightweight: Mark Magsayo (134.5 lbs.) vs Andres Cortes (135 lbs.)
6 Rounds — Lightweight: Oswaldo Molina (131.5 lbs.) vs Pablo Rubio (131 lbs.)
8 Rounds — Super Middleweight: Abel Gonzalez (167.5 lbs.) vs Raul Salomon (167 lbs.)
6 Rounds — Super Welterweight: Vlad Panin (151.5 lbs.) vs Dakota Linger (150.5 lbs.)
10 Rounds — Welterweight: Jose Ramirez (146.5 lbs.) vs Alexis Rocha (146.5 lbs.)
6 Rounds — Lightweight: Sean Garcia (134 lbs.) vs. Abraham Morales (134 lbs.)
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