David Haye has advised Moses Itauma to face one particular heavyweight, who can present him with the type of “fear factor” he needs to “grow”.
The 21-year-old squared off with Filip Hrgovic in August, attempting to become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson dethroned Trevor Berbick in 1986.
And for the first eight rounds, it appeared as though he would do just that, for Itauma had scored an early knockdown and was largely dominating their contest.
By round nine, however, the explosive southpaw had reached a state of complete exhaustion and Hrgovic, taking advantage of this, managed to piece together a stunning stoppage victory.
In doing so, the Croatian claimed the vacant IBF title and is expected to face mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez early next year, while Itauma, too, is set to return to action in the first quarter of 2027.
As for a comeback opponent, former two-division world champion Haye has suggested Andy Ruiz Jr, who comes off a unanimous decision defeat to Damian Knyba in September.
Speaking to Tris Dixon, Haye explained that Ruiz, who famously scored a seventh-round finish over Anthony Joshua in 2019, would offer a level of ambition and durability.
“He needs somebody like Andy Ruiz Jr. That’s the type of fighter he needs – someone who’s the real deal; someone who has been heavyweight champion; someone who’s hungry; someone who’s always in good fights; someone who’s going to bring the pressure, the high volume, who’s going to force Moses to be uncomfortable, who isn’t going to get knocked out with one punch.
“That’s the type of fighter he needs to grow. He needs the fear factor.”
Given his fifth-round stoppage defeat to Carl Thompson in 2004, Haye can relate to the way in which Itauma became increasingly fatigued against Hrgovic.
