Moses Itauma admits he struggled to accept his shock defeat to Filip Hrgovic. The 21-year-old is now plotting a January comeback, though an Itauma Hrgovic rematch looks unlikely for now.
Itauma’s bid for a maiden world title ended in a stunning ninth round defeat to Hrgovic in August.
Moses Itauma would have become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson had he beaten Hrgovic.
Itauma floored Hrgovic in the second round and the visitor lost every round. However, Moses Itauma dramatically ran out of steam and the Croatian overwhelmed him to become IBF heavyweight champion.
Speaking for the first time since the defeat, Moses Itauma has revealed how he found it difficult to come to terms with what unfolded at the O2 Arena.
“After the fight I had a hard time accepting the loss,” he said to The Stomping Ground.
“I’ve only ever lost three rounds in boxing. Once was when I was 12-years-old. The second time was when I boxed Russia in the European semi-finals as a junior.
“The next time I lost was in round nine of a heavyweight championship of the world [fight] at 21-years-old.
“It was a hard thing for me to accept, because even going into round nine I was 10 rounds up, because of the knockdown in round two.
“All of a sudden it just slips away from you and you’re like what happened?”
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Moses Itauma Hrgovic rematch?
Moses Itauma is now on the rebuild after the Hrgovic loss. His promoter Frank Warren has revealed plans to bring him back in January.
An immediate Itauma Hrgovic rematch seems off the table though. Warren is planning for the Croatian to headline a show back in his home country.
Despite the punishing Hrgovic defeat, Moses Itauma remains highly ranked in the governing bodies. The Kent man is rated at five in both the WBC and WBO behind Agit Kabayel and Daniel Dubois respectively.
Kabayel will defend his WBC title against Nelson Hysa on November 28 in a homecoming clash in Germany.
Meanwhile, Dubois puts his WBO belt on the line against Fabio Wardley in a much-anticipated rematch on Saturday at the O2 Arena.
Moses Itauma will be watching closely as he plots his route back to a world title after the Hrgovic setback.
