Sports · Combat Sports · 2 hrs ago
Moses Itauma expected to return to boxing in January
Moses Itauma is expected back in the ring in January after his first professional defeat.
The 21-year-old heavyweight lost to Filip Hrgovic in August, when Hrgovic stopped him in the ninth round and won the vacant IBF world title.
Itauma had dominated the early part of the fight but ran out of energy.
Promoter Frank Warren wants him to return against a well-known opponent and rebuild his progress toward a world title.
Itauma wanted a rematch with Hrgovic, but that cannot happen now because Hrgovic is scheduled to fight Frank Sanchez.
Warren wants Itauma involved in a series of heavyweight bouts next year, alongside fighters including Daniel Dubois, Fabio Wardley, Hrgovic and Agit Kabayel.
Warren says the fights could help determine the leading heavyweight and aims for someone to hold all four major belts by the end of 2027.
Moses Itauma is expected to return to boxing in January after suffering the first defeat of his career.
He lost to Filip Hrgovic in August, when Hrgovic stopped him in the ninth round and won the vacant IBF world title.
Promoter Frank Warren said Itauma is expected to face a well-known opponent, but no opponent has been named.
Itauma had wanted a rematch with Hrgovic, but Warren said it could not be arranged because Hrgovic has a fight with Frank Sanchez.
Warren wants Itauma involved in a series of heavyweight fights aimed at determining the division’s leading boxer and a four-belt champion by the end of 2027.
- Who
- Moses Itauma is expected to return to the ring. Promoter Frank Warren announced the plan.
- What
- Itauma plans to resume boxing after his first career defeat, against Filip Hrgovic.
- When
- January, possibly earlier. The year is not specified for the planned return.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Itauma wants to get back into contention and pursue a world title.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Itauma suffered the first defeat of his career when Hrgovic stopped him in the ninth round and won the vacant IBF world title.
Warren said Itauma is expected to return to the ring, possibly earlier.
Warren aims for the planned heavyweight fights to lead to a boxer holding all four belts.
- Itauma's age
- 21
- Defeat
- Filip Hrgovic stopped Itauma in the ninth round
- Title won by Hrgovic
- Vacant IBF world title
- Planned return
- January, possibly earlier
- Target
- A heavyweight holding all four belts by the end of 2027
3 sources
What people are saying
Moses will be back in January, if not before, but January's looking like the date.
I would like Moses to be in with a name to start with.
He wanted a rematch with Filip which couldn't be done because Filip's got Frank Sanchez, who had agreed to step aside.
We’re going to have the most unbelievable roster of heavyweight fights that leads to somebody holding the four belts by the end of next year.