Itauma calls for immediate Hrgovic rematch after painful defeat

Moses Itauma did not want to wait after his defeat by Filip Hrgovic. The 21-year-old heavyweight called his longtime promoter, Frank Warren, after returning home and asked for an immediate rematch.

Itauma had appeared close to a major victory at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday. He led on all three judges’ scorecards after eight rounds and was chasing the chance to become the sport’s second-youngest heavyweight world champion. But his energy faded in the ninth round as Hrgovic increased the pressure and stopped him in a dramatic comeback.

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He’s saying to me, ‘Can we get the rematch on?’ which is a natural reaction.

The loss came at a physical cost. Itauma left the ring on a stretcher and went to hospital, although he was released several hours later. Warren said the fighter’s desire to return immediately reflected his character, but advised him to step away from boxing, spend time with his family and recover.

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But I told him, ‘You have got to switch off from boxing, go and chill out and spend some time with your family and come back, recharge your batteries and then we get to work again.’

“He’s saying to me, ‘Can we get the rematch on?’ which is a natural reaction,” Warren told talkSPORT Breakfast. “But I told him, ‘You have got to switch off from boxing, go and chill out and spend some time with your family and come back, recharge your batteries and then we get to work again.’”

Warren said he would prefer Itauma to have one or two fights before facing Hrgovic again. He believes the defeat showed the need for a second strategy when a powerful opponent absorbs the biggest punches. Itauma had spent so much energy trying to finish the fight that he no longer had the strength to box late on, Warren said. Hrgovic ultimately won by producing the only result available to him, a knockout.

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Provided he learns the lessons from the fight, I think he can go on and do great things.