Moses Itauma was unable to make history at the weekend, despite looking a level above his opponent, Filip Hrgovic, at times. Now, two-time heavyweight world champion, Tyson Fury, has admitted that he believes the youngster may find it difficult to bounce back.
Itauma started strong and looked to be well on his way to a statement stoppage win that would see him crowned as the second-youngest heavyweight world champion of all time and the youngest Briton to rule the division.
However, the 21-year-old began to become visibly tired around the half-way mark and Hrgovic capitalised in round nine as he halted Itauma to become the new IBF heavyweight world titleholder.
Speaking to Gareth A Davies, Fury noted that there is a huge difference between knocking opponents out on route to the world level and doing so against the division’s elite, stating that he had told promoter Frank Warren that this test was too soon for the young prospect.
“I just think that knocking out a low-level man is different to knocking out a world-class man; different power, different toughness, different everything – it is totally different.
“From my experience, I said to Frank Warren and I said to everybody who would listen, ‘too soon, this guy needs another four/five fights, what is the rush? He is 21,’
“I suppose when you are trying to build somebody into a superstar and all of that stuff, you put him in early. They made a mistake and it has cost them. Not only has it cost Moses the 100-million-dollar career, I believe he was a billion-dollar athlete, whatever these superstar athletes are, your LeBron James’ and all of these people – I think it has cost him it.”
‘The Gypsy King’ then went on to say that Itauma could find it a struggle to recover from the manner of the defeat.
“It is very difficult [to bounce back], when you have been banjo’d like that, it is difficult to turn that around mentally, physically and emotionally.”
“Here’s why I think it’s going to be difficult, you have got an absolute monster like Moses and if you put him in against low-level opposition and he blows them away like he did his other 12 opponents. Step him up too far and he might gas out again.
“It’s about getting the balance right; get him in with somebody who is not that dangerous, who is durable, who can take punishment and give him the rounds. He needs to get used to getting the rounds in.”
Warren has advised Itauma to take some time off following his first career loss, whilst Hrgovic is expected to move onto a showdown against Cuba’s Frank Sanchez for an attempted first defence.
