Moses Itauma could be one win away from another world title shot.
Itauma, a highly rated 21-year-old, faced Filip Hrgovic for the IBF belt in August.
It was Itauma’s first world championship fight. After starting very strongly, he tired, broke down and was stopped by Hrgovic in nine rounds.
Promoter Frank Warren, however, plans to bring Itauma back to a top-level fight in January to set him up for another world title shot.
“It’s going to be a good fight. He’s got to be with somebody who’s going to give him a test,” Warren said. Sky Sports.
“When you’re losing, any comeback fight is a dangerous fight. He’s going to want to go out there with something to prove. We want to see him with somebody reasonable for the comeback fight and he wants to get back in the mix.
“He will have to come back and show what he is about.”
After that, Itauma will aim for a world champion. In addition to promoting Itauma, Warren represents new IBF champion Hrgovic, WBC heavyweight titleholder Agit Kabayel, as well as WBO champion Daniel Dubois.
“He wants to get back in the mix, so he’ll be very active next year,” Warren said of Itauma. “Right away, no fuss.
“He can fight any of them. Because if he wins, he’ll be right back in the top half of the rankings.”
Warren added of the Itauma loss: “Hrgovic was able to absorb the punishment. Even when (Itauma) was blowing, he was still shooting, even when he was caught he was still trying to fight back. He ticked a few more boxes as far as I’m concerned.”
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Highlights of the IBF world heavyweight title fight between Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgović. Video Credit: Courtesy of DAZN
Hrgovic will next face his mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez. This could be a home fight for Hrgovic in Croatia.
“We’re looking at putting him in Croatia, we’re working hard to make that happen, that’s his dream,” Warren said.
Mike Borao, Sanchez’s manager, said Sky Sports: “We are looking to do it in the first quarter of 2027.
“Everything is going well so far. Frank (Sanchez) is confident that he will win and is eager for his chance to become world champion.
“Hrgovic is elite and will not be an easy opponent, but I fully expect Frank to get the job done.”
