Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic weigh-in kicks off with Brit SLAPPED on stage as security forced to intervene

MOSES ITAUMA took a slap in the face from Filip Hrgovic before they were dragged apart by bouncers. The build-up to the IBF heavyweight world title clash on Saturday night had been friendly and respectful. The final face-off between Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic turned ugly Credit: PA Itauma shoved his rival Hrgovic off the stage Credit: Getty But the 34-year-old Croatian vowed to “smash the kid” one too many times at the weigh-in, making the ice-cool 21-year-old snap and shove the veteran off the stage. The Kent hero growled: “You ain’t faced anyone like me. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! “You ain’t going to do s***. “We’ll see, we’ll f***ing see” When Hrgovic turned to pose for photos he was barged in the back and stumbled down off the platform. The Zagreb underdog leaped back on the stage and landed a open-handed shot on Itauma’s left cheek. Itauma lunched forward for revenge but was pulled away by his team. When the Brit was briefly interviewed afterwards he said: “I don’t know what caused that, I just had an itch I needed to scratch. Most read in Boxing BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS All hell broke loose as the heavyweight stars had to be separated Credit: PA “Expect fireworks”. On the stage, before the aggro turned physical, Hrgovic snarled: “I am a man, you just a little kid. “I’m going to f***ing smash you.” Itauma countered: “We will see. I’m gonna f*** you up.” Just yesterday, Itauma slammed his rival’s trash talk as “schoolboy banter”. Itauma said: “This is the fight I have wanted – and I have asked for – for so long. “I reckon I can thrive on the style match-up and the pressure. “If I can’t beat Hrgovic then all the noise doesn’t matter. His talk is cheap, it’s schoolboy banter. “I am not engaging in the back-and-forth, my eyes are only focused on the target.” Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic - all the info Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic face off for the IBF heavyweight world title Comment now