Filip Hrgovic told British heavyweight Moses Itauma he will "send him back to high school" when they fight for the vacant IBF heavyweight world title at London's O2 Arena on Saturday.

Unbeaten Itauma, 21, is aiming to become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history - Mike Tyson remains the youngest.

Hrgovic, 34, has repeatedly called Itauma a "kid" in the build-up, prompting the Chatham heavyweight to admit the taunts were starting to wind him up.

But Itauma played down their impact at Thursday's news conference. "At the end of the day, talk is cheap. It's schoolboy banter," he said.

An Olympic bronze medallist with an extensive amateur pedigree, Hrgovic's only pro defeat came against Daniel Dubois in 2024.

He dismissed suggestions he was trying to play "mind games".

"I just tell you what I think. I think he's a kid, he's not mature enough. I think I'm the man. I'm a much better age, much more experienced. That's it," he said.

Itauma kept a straight face as Hrgovic continued: "I will smash the kid on Saturday and I'll send him back to high school."

Itauma has stopped 12 of his 14 opponents and has built a reputation for his devastating speed, power and timing.

"The perfect performance will be to go a couple of rounds and close the job," he said. "Same script, different story."

But Hrgovic laughed off the suggestion.

"We'll see, man. No-one ever knocked me out any time in my life," he said. "I only got stopped by Dubois because of cuts and I was in terrible shape because of sickness."

The pair shared an intense face-off before Itauma left the stage.

Hrgovic then made light of Itauma's earlier claim that the Croat had been shaking during a previous face-off, by telling reporters: "Look how much I'm sweating. Look how scared I am."

Itauma refuses to bite back to Hrgovic jibes

Hrgovic will be fighting a British boxer for the fifth consecutive time, having lost to Daniel Dubois and then beaten Joe Joyce, David Adeleye and Dave Allen

Thursday's news conference was held at Studio 338 on London's Greenwich Peninsula, a venue more accustomed to booming club nights and electronic music than heavyweight boxing.

A relaxed, shirtless Hrgovic arrived half an hour before the event and waited patiently as a member of his team fanned him down.

Itauma arrived minutes before the start.

Hrgovic, now wearing a shirt with the buttons undone, described Saturday's fight as "the biggest fight of my life". He questioned whether Itauma was in the right shape and continued to try to provoke a reaction.

Itauma looked slightly agitated but, as he has throughout his career and the build-up to this fight, was reluctant to bite back.

"Me standing in front of a camera and microphone, saying what I'm going to do, doesn't mean much. I'm not trying to engage in any back and forth. My eyes are solely on Saturday," he said.

At 21 years and 244 days, Itauma would become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history, behind only Tyson, who won the WBC title at 20 years and 145 days in 1986.

Itauma would also become the second-youngest British world champion in any weight division, just 14 days older than 'Prince' Naseem Hamed, who was 21 years and 230 days old when he won the WBO featherweight title in 1995.

But Itauma said he was not interested in records.

"I'm not trying to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion of the world. I'm trying to beat Filip Hrgovic and become world heavyweight champion," he insisted.

The final word - keeping in tone with the event - went to Hrgovic, who ended the news conference by repeating his prediction: "I'll smash the kid, man." (BBC)