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Moses Itauma interrupts the interview twice after being asked about fear

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Image: Moses Itauma Stops 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.

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Pierce OLeary vs. Mark Chamberlain Live Results: Updates and Highlights

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Pierce O'Leary vs. Mark Chamberlain Live Results: Updates and Highlights

LIVE COVERAGE

World Boxing News provides live results and updates from Dublin as Pierce O’Leary faces Mark Chamberlain at super lightweight.

Queensberry Promotions returns to the 3Arena with an action-packed card headed by the unbeaten Irish star O’Leary, who meets former British champion Chamberlain in the main event.

The undercard also features Gary Cully, Reece Bellotti, Sean McComb, Steven Cairns, Ben Fail and several unbeaten Irish prospects.


Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain Results

Times are Local – IST

17:46

Gary Cully stopped Lee Reeves in the tenth round to improve to 20-2.

Cully overcame a fifth-round point deduction for repeatedly losing his gumshield before dropping Reeves twice in the final round to force the stoppage.

The victory marked Cully’s 11th knockout win as a professional.

17:01

Sean McComb returned with a comfortable six-round points victory over Miguel Antin.

McComb won every round on the referee’s scorecard, claiming a 60-54 decision to improve his record to 22-2.

16:31

Machlan Arthur improved to 2-0 with his second straight knockout by stopping Ryan Frost in the fourth round.

Arthur dropped Frost twice in the final session before the referee waved the contest off at 1:05 of round four.


Remaining Bouts

• Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain – IBO World Super Lightweight Title (12)

• Royston Barney-Smith vs Reece Bellotti – Vacant IBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Title (10)

• Gary Cully vs Lee Reeves – Super Lightweight (10)

• Steven Cairns vs Senan Kelly – Super Lightweight (10)

• Ben Fail vs Craig O’Brien – Super Welterweight (10)

• Bobbi Flood vs Tariq Davis – Super Welterweight (6)

• Adam Olaniyan vs Jonathan Claudio Sauco – Heavyweight (4)

• John Joe Carrigan vs Sean Murray – Super Welterweight (4)

• Sami Hamed vs Bela Istvan Orban – Super Welterweight (4)


Queensberry

Preview

Pierce O’Leary tops a major night of boxing in Dublin as the unbeaten Irishman takes on Mark Chamberlain for the IBO World super lightweight title.

O’Leary enters the contest looking to continue his rise through the rankings against the experienced Chamberlain, who aims to return to winning ways after a draw in his third outing since suffering the lone defeat of his professional career.

The chief support sees Royston Barney-Smith meet Reece Bellotti for the vacant IBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title.

Gary Cully also returns in an intriguing domestic clash with fellow unbeaten Irishman Lee Reeves, while Steven Cairns faces Senan Kelly in another all-Irish encounter.

Sean McComb, Ben Fail, Bobbi Flood, Adam Olaniyan, Machlan Arthur, John Joe Carrigan and Sami Hamed also feature on the Queensberry Promotions card.

Updates will be added below as the action unfolds in Dublin, with more live coverage on World Boxing News.


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.

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Barry McGuigan: Ryan Garcia Faces a Dangerman in Conor Benn at 147 lbs

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Barry McGuigan: Ryan Garcia Faces a "Dangerman" in Conor Benn at 147 lbs

Hall of Famer Barry McGuigan has named one half of the main event between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn as the “dangerman” at 147lbs.

The two welterweights will collide at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on September 12, with Garcia making a first defence of his WBC world title.

He claimed the belt by dethroning Mario Barrios with a unanimous decision victory in February, which followed his surprising points loss to Rolando Romero in May 2025.

Interestingly enough, this defeat came shortly after his year-long doping ban, which he served on account of testing positive for ostarine ahead of his majority decision victory over Devin Haney.

The result of their showdown was then ruled a no-contest, with Garcia subsequently moving up to welterweight after failing to keep below the 140lb limit.

It now seems the 27-year-old is competing at a more natural weight while Benn, who tested positive for clomifene in 2022, has not made 147lbs since his second-round finish over Chris van Heerden that same year.

Speaking with talkSPORTIrish boxing icon McGuigan suggested that this – as well as the 29-year-old’s technical flaws – could prove a major factor against Garcia.

“[Benn’s] got that genetic code from his dad, and he’s got that explosiveness and everything else. But he is predictable – you can see when he’s going to throw.

“You ask yourself: is Garcia just a little bit too sharp for him? A little bit too cute. I think Garcia’s finally found the weight he’s most suitable [for]. I think he’s a dangerman at 147[lbs].

“Maybe Conor Benn has left it a little too late to make 147[lbs] again. I think that could be his Achilles’ heel. I make Garcia a slight favourite but would never write off Conor Benn – he’s got that fighting heart.”

Benn comes off a unanimous decision victory over Regis Prograis in April, which followed his two middleweight encounters with Chris Eubank Jr last year.

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Devin Haney Updates Fight Strategy After Keyshawn Davis Withdraws from Title Shot

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"Devin Haney Updates Fight Strategy After Keyshawn Davis Withdraws from Title Shot"

Devin Haney’s immediate future has been thrown into uncertainty after Keyshawn Davis pulled out of their mandated contest on Friday.

The pair had been ordered to collide for Haney’s WBO world title, with Davis having been named as the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger at 147lbs.

Multiple reports then suggested that the 27-year-old was offered $3m by Top Rank, his promoter, only for ‘The Businessman’ to reject what would have been a career-high payday.

Subsequently, their bout went to a purse bit hearing, where Top Rank trumped Teofimo Lopez’s Takeover Promotions with a sum of $8,550,000.

This therefore gave Bob Arum’s outfit the promotional rights and, as per the usual 75/25 split in favour of the defending champion, Davis would have been entitled to a share of $2,137,500.

Since Thursday’s auction, though, Davis has excluded himself from the fight and left Haney without an obvious opponent for his first welterweight title defence.

Taking to social mediaWBO president Gustavo Olivieri explained that his organisation must now provide their champion with a solution.

“The WBO hereby confirms receipt of written notice from counsel on behalf of Keyshawn Davis advising that he will NOT accept the 25% purse split adjudicated pursuant to the official WBO purse bid proceedings and, accordingly, will NOT participate in the WBO welterweight mandatory championship contest against Devin Haney.

“In light of the foregoing, the WBO Championship Committee and Ratings Committee will convene to proceed in accordance with the WBO world championship rules and regulations. The applicable ruling will be rendered and published in due course.”

At this stage, it remains to be seen whether Haney will be immediately ordered to face a new mandatory challenger or, given the situation, have the opportunity to make a voluntary defence.

Either way, the 27-year-old has not fought since dethroning Brian Norman Jr in November and is surely eager to return to action.

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