Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 30

Moses Itauma Gets Rebuild Advice After 9th-Round IBF Title Stoppage by Filip Hrgovic

Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 30

Moses Itauma Gets Rebuild Advice After 9th-Round IBF Title Stoppage by Filip Hrgovic

Q: After exposing the prodigy's stamina, who will Croatia's first heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic target next in his quest for division dominance?

Filip Hrgovic is targeting a unification fight next, not his mandatory challenger if he can avoid it. After stopping Moses Itauma and exposing the Briton’s stamina limitations, the new IBF heavyweight champion said he wants to unify titles with Daniel Dubois or Agit Kabayel. Hrgovic was explicit after the fight, dismissing immediate talk of facing Frank Sanchez and saying he wants “unification” instead. He named Dubois, if Dubois wins his next bout, and also welcomed a clash with Kabayel. That said, Sanchez remains the IBF mandatory challenger and is the most likely default next opponent if no unification deal can be made. Promoter Frank Warren indicated there is an obligation to honor that position, especially after Sanchez reportedly accepted a step-aside arrangement to allow Itauma-Hrgovic for the vacant belt. If Hrgovic cannot secure a fight with another titleholder, the IBF could require him to face Sanchez or risk being stripped. So the immediate picture is clear: Hrgovic’s preferred targets are Dubois or Kabayel in a unification bout, but the governing-body pressure points toward Sanchez unless an exception is granted. In practical terms, Dubois’ schedule may complicate that route, which could leave Kabayel as the more realistic unification option.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 30

Shakur Stevenson said 21-year-old Moses Itauma can still become a world champion if he learns from his ninth-round stoppage loss to Filip Hrgovic and better controls his all-out punching style.
The advice followed one of boxing's biggest shocks this year: Itauma dominated early and dropped the 34-year-old Croatian, who had taken a knee in round two, before Hrgovic rallied to stop him in the ninth.
Josh Taylor blamed matchmaking, saying Itauma was rushed in too quickly against a top-class veteran for an IBF heavyweight title fight despite his obvious world-class talent.
Dave Allen warned the defeat could be hard to recover from, saying Itauma looked inexperienced from the middle rounds even after building a 7-1 lead on his scorecard.