Moses Itauma suffered the first defeat of his career this weekend in London, losing to Filip Hrgovic inside nine rounds, failing to capture the vacant IBF heavyweight world title. Frank Bruno, who became champion on his fourth attempt, has offered his verdict.
Itauma was comfortably outboxing Hrgovic in the early rounds, scoring a knockdown in the second while dazzling fans with agility and speed. The more seasoned heavyweight from Croatia displayed an incredible chin to stay in the fight, and it paid off when Itauma started to slow down.
In the ninth, the young Brit’s gas tank was completely empty, and his body threatened to betray him with every shot he threw. Hrgovic piled on the pressure and forced referee Howard Foster to step in and stop the action – this coincided with Itauma’s trainer, Ben Davison, throwing in the towel.
Reflecting on the action, Bruno compared it to his own firs loss.
“So, Croatian boxer Filip Hrgović becomes champion. When it got to the end of round 7, I said, ‘Moses is running out of gas.” You know, when I fought James Bone Crusher Smith, I had beaten everyone before him in early rounds. I was up for the World Championship, but I still had lessons to learn, and I lost the fight.
“Moses, I feel, will be part of Britain’s heavyweight he ritage, but this was a learning lesson for him and his team. It was a good fight, and I wish Moses a quick recovery. At one point, Filip looked like he was beaten. Good fight, but Moses will return, I am sure. Stronger and wiser.”
