Hamed was one of British boxing’s biggest stars during the 1990s, combining an entertaining fighting style with elaborate ring entrances and a larger-than-life character.
The Sheffield-born fighter became Britain’s youngest world champion when he beat Steve Robinson for the WBO featherweight title in Cardiff in 1995, aged 21 and 230 days.
Itauma will miss out on that record by 14 days if he beats Hrgovic.
Hamed, though, says he is not concerned about records and simply wants to see “special fighter” Itauma fulfil his potential.
“Winning a national title as an amateur aged 11 and then having in your head all the way through your amateur career that you’ll be world champion at 21 – I visualised that. I think it’s very much the same for Moses,” he said.
“I’m so confident that Moses is going to be the heavyweight champion of the world. I’m so confident that he’ll defend that belt for as long as he wants.
Hrgovic is an underdog despite his superior record against better opposition. The 34-year-old is an Olympic bronze medalist and has only lost once – to current WBO world champion Daniel Dubois in 2024 – in 21 fights.
But Hamed does not expect the fight to prove particularly difficult for Itauma.
“On paper it’s a test but I don’t think the night that we watch it it will be a test,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be one of Moses’ easiest nights of his career and he’ll win a world title.”
