The pair will fight for the vacant belt at London’s O2 Arena after a tetchy buildup. And now Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs), The Ring’s No. 5-rated heavyweight, has cranked up his war of words with Itauma, who sits one place below him at No. 6.

“I think for him, it would be best for him to lose this fight because it can ruin him, to win a world title so young,” Hrgovic told reporters during a media roundtable session Tuesday. “His head is already in the clouds; he’s already delusional, and I think it can ruin someone who’s not ready for that kind of fame, that kind of money. It can ruin your soul, it can make you lose yourself.”

Itauma, a Slovakia-born Englishman, would become the second-youngest heavyweight champion with a victory over Hrgovic in a 12-round main event DAZN will offer internationally on pay-per-view and to subscribers of its Ultimate plan. The Croatian is adamant such a moment would have a catastrophic effect on his life.

Itauma, aged 21 years and seven months, would be second only to Mike Tyson, who claimed the WBC title at 20 years and four months when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in November 1986. Tyson infamously struggled with the trappings of fame thereafter.

“We have seen a lot of superstars, a lot of famous people lose themselves,” Hrgovic continued. “They just get lost in that world of fame and money. I don’t think he’s ready for that. For him, it would be best for him to lose this fight, man, to save his soul.

“What does it mean to achieve everything if you lose your soul and lose yourself? I think I’m in a much different position because of the experiences I went through, the ups and downs in my life, I’m in a different position. I think I’m like a rock, stable, and nothing can move me. I don’t care about fame, money or what people think. But we will see on Saturday.”

Hrgovic, 34, has been priced as wide as a +700 underdog with some bookmakers. The younger prodigy will arrive at O2 Arena on a 10-fight knockout hot streak, with all but one of those coming inside the first two rounds.

But Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs), who stopped durable Jermaine Franklin inside five rounds in his last fight, is yet to face anyone of Hrgovic’s caliber.

“He doesn’t really know what’s coming to him,” Hrgovic said. “I noticed that when I saw him last time. I saw that kid. It’s no offense to him, but I just saw that kid, that young man inside of him. But we were all stupid when we were young.”

Hrgovic has only 21 professional fights during his nine-year career, but the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist has said he had over 100 amateur bouts. Itauma’s amateur career was limited to 24 bouts, though he never lost.

“You just can’t buy experience,” Hrgovic said. “I’m not just talking about boxing, but I saw that kid in his eyes, in his behavior, and in his attitude. We’ve all been like that, but I just don’t think he’s aware of a lot of things, he’s not been through a lot of things. He’s just young. I don’t know if he has respect for me. I think it’s to my advantage, but maybe it doesn’t need to be a factor in the fight.

“I just think he’s a kid, he’s inexperienced and he’s just a young man. He’s a kid and everything has gone well – he hasn’t had any hard times. He went from youth level to professional and everyone is patting him on the back telling him he’s the best, he’s the next Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson. He’s just not in reality. That’s what I see when I look at him.”