Moses Itauma to remain with Ben Davison after Filip Hrgovic defeat

Moses Itauma will remain with trainer Ben Davison as he rebuilds from his stoppage defeat by Filip Hrgovic, promoter Frank Warren has confirmed.

The 21-year-old heavyweight is expected to return in January in a less demanding contest, although an opponent has not been named. Itauma has already returned to the gym after suffering the first defeat of his professional career.

Hrgovic stopped Itauma in the ninth round of their August fight for the vacant IBF heavyweight title. Itauma, now 14-1 (12 KOs), dropped the Croatian in the second and led 80-71, 80-71 and 79-72 on the scorecards after eight rounds, but expended too much energy trying to force an early finish and was eventually halted on his feet.

Davison and the rest of Itauma’s team subsequently faced questions over the fighter’s conditioning and the corner’s handling of the contest. Fabio Wardley later clarified that Itauma had completed several 12-round sparring sessions during his preparation, having previously suggested that he had not done so.

Warren met Itauma’s team to review the defeat and discuss what needed to change before the heavyweight returned.

“There has been a conversation, and the proof will be in the pudding,” Warren told Playbook Boxing. “He’s staying with Ben and the team. That’s where he is at. You’ve got to judge him now on his results, which is what we’ll do.”

Warren believes Itauma’s determination to stop Hrgovic was the principal mistake. The young southpaw controlled much of the fight with his speed and movement, but struggled to recover after Hrgovic survived the early pressure and extended the contest into the later rounds.

The promoter also accepted responsibility for approving such a difficult assignment for Itauma’s 15th professional fight. Warren had previously said he would have preferred a different opponent at that stage of the prospect’s career.

“I signed off on that fight. At the end of the day, if any of them fight, that’s down to me,” he said. “I accept my responsibility for that, and everyone has to accept responsibility for it. You expect certain things to happen in fights and certain things to happen in training.”

Davison has also come under scrutiny following Wardley’s defeat by Daniel Dubois earlier this year and Anthony Joshua’s fifth-round loss to Dubois in September 2024. Warren defended the trainer and pointed to Joshua’s return to Davison ahead of his planned fight with Tyson Fury.

“AJ is back with Ben for his next fight, and there is a reason for that,” Warren said. “It is always the case: if a fighter is winning, the trainer is great. If he gets beat, [he’s not].”

Itauma was taken to hospital after the Hrgovic fight with a leg injury and exhaustion but was discharged the following day. His January return is expected to begin a more measured rebuilding process after his unsuccessful attempt to become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson in 1986.

Hrgovic could also return in January, potentially in a homecoming fight in Croatia. IBF mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez accepted a step-aside payment to allow Hrgovic-Itauma to proceed and is due his title opportunity, while Itauma and Davison will use their next camp to address the pacing problems exposed by his first defeat.