Moses Itauma: what’s next?

[MightyWarrior]

Go with Andy Lee, look what he said before the fight

“Moses beat Jermaine Franklin in his last fight [a fifth‑round stoppage]. I thought it was a spectacular knockout. But just before the knockout, there were little signs of distress which you would expect to see from a young fighter. You’ve landed shots that usually knock out or stop your opponent but this guy is still not going down. So I think the knockout came at the perfect time for Moses.”

[Heldenjaeger]

Go with Andy Lee, look what he said before the fight

“Moses beat Jermaine Franklin in his last fight [a fifth‑round stoppage]. I thought it was a spectacular knockout. But just before the knockout, there were little signs of distress which you would expect to see from a young fighter. You’ve landed shots that usually knock out or stop your opponent but this guy is still not going down. So I think the knockout came at the perfect time for Moses.”

Lee is very good on a microphone and what he said there is perfectly sensible. But look at what’s actually happened with his own fighters lately: Parker got stopped by Davison-trained underdog Wardley and got banned, Donovan managed to lose to Crocker twice, including the world-title rematch and Sheeraz just scraped a majority decision against Zachenhuber - a guy who’d lost a six-rounder to Pawel August three months earlier.
Maybe we should judge trainers by more than how intelligent they sound in interviews or how likeable they are.

[margaret thatcher]

moses will be back, heck vlad sirenko was shut out by solly dacres, much worse than being up 80-71 vs hrgovic, and now some people have him top 15

[Heldenjaeger]

moses will be back, heck vlad sirenko was shut out by solly dacres, much worse than being up 80-71 vs hrgovic, and now some people have him top 15

Lemieux was comfortably ahead on Rubio before emptying the tank and getting stopped too, nobody ranked him on the rounds he won.
Moses may well come back and prove he belongs. Until he does, you’re ranking the prediction rather than the achievement.

[rd350lc]

Putting Moses in a world title fight with a seasoned pro was reckless. Even Mike Tyson fought a lot in a short time to build up for a world title and he was a lot better

Yeah, Tyson had 27 fights when he fought Berbick and that included several fights that went 10 rounds. More amateur experience also.

Moses has gone from 7 fights in his first year, 4 in his second, 2 in 2025 and so far only 2 in 2026

Strangely inactive, or not.
Seems to happen a lot with heavyweights.
Especially when the talk was he needed more rounds and experience.

[SeanBrennan]

He’s 21 he has plenty of time to learn lessons and come back. Bad tactics potentially great fighter good luck to him.

[Grilling Machine]

You’ve landed shots that usually knock out or stop your opponent but this guy is still not going down. So I think the knockout came at the perfect time for Moses.

I don't know if UK journalists suck or they're kept on a marketing leash, but today they're backpedalling slightly on the massive power they previously credited Itauma with. He's never been a one-shotter - he catches opponents with shots they don't see from angles they don't expect. He's a lovely combination puncher with superb (for a heavy) upperbody movement. But he's not a destructive puncher, at least not yet.

The journos have also taken the line he went for it in the 8th because he thought he could finish it, and that that was his only mistake. IMO he started visibly tiring in R2 and likely went for Hrg in hope more than expectation. I think he knew he couldn't last the 12 having expended too much cumulative energy.

He can try to improve his cardio else start a lot slower in future.

[Controversial]

So was he actually injured then, his leg did seem like it wasn’t right but not heard any confirmation

[CaptainSpacerod]

Really looking forward to hearing all the pundits, who’d already anointed Moses as the next coming of Tyson and said he was poised to dominate the division for many years, hastily backtracking in their post fight reviews

[coneye]

What next ,, Well theres what he needs to do and what he should do, and needs is to start with getting a coach who has experience , and i mean experience gained from thousands of rnds with ameteurs from kids to adults , experience with pro's and longer fights ..

Every decent pro, trainer , and pundit said that he may be dragged into deep water , Christ even Hrgovic himself said it , SO WHY WAS;NT HE PREPARED FOR IT , I personaly don't go with all this moses needed the experience , He did'nt, experience is what he gains after having the fights ect , , i AM OFF THE OPINION THAT IF mOSES HAD not HIT A BRICK WALL AND HAD THE STAMINA he would off continued to box Flips ears off for 12 rnds ,

The fact that he did'nt have the experience is irrelevent he PAYS TRAINERS TO HAVE EXPERIENCE , he pays trainers to know what should be done in the gym , he pAYS TRAINERS TO IINSTRUCT HIM AND GUIDE HIM , he pays trainers to find out if he can do the rnds well before he got in

lET ME ASK YOU THIS , a trainer puts a lad in for his first fight ,, he goes out jabs , throws a straight right , its 1-2 , 1-2 for 1 min , following his opponent around just landing 1-2 , people say he's winning Ok , Now his opponet waits , stops the left jab with his palm , parrys the straight right , and BOOM hits the kid wqith a solid right hand . only novices but novice one did'nt hav a clue how to stop , parry slip a right hand , od you say he needs experience to stop an oncoming punch or did he need to BE TAUGHT how to stop an incoming punch , the other kid did , theye were both first fight novices , I blame the trainer of boy 1 for sending his lad in UNPREPARED and not teaching what he needed to know



Like i say theres what he should do and what he will do , Well we all know what he should , million dollar question is what he WILL DO

Great result for Flip underdog came through hip hip hooray and all that, but the facts are Flip got his ears boxed off and only won because his opponent gassed out punching him and beating him easy ., Did Flip win that fight or did Moses lose that fight in the gym , a fit Moses throwing in 10-11 and 12 the same has earlier would off stopped Flip and we would all be calling for Flip to retire


For me If he would take him Mckracken is the go , or maybee Mcgiugan , i say Shane because he gets Barry has well

[keithmoonhangover]

Whether he changes trainers or not, he needs to learn the following in the gym.

1. How to take a round off.
2, How to breath properly between rounds.
3. How and when to take a short in-round breaks.
4, When to throw fast punches without much zip on them.
5. How to pace himself for a twelve round fight.

[Heldenjaeger]

Whether he changes trainers or not, he needs to learn the following in the gym.

1. How to take a round off.
2, How to breath properly between rounds.
3. How and when to take a short in-round breaks.
4, When to throw fast punches without much zip on them.
5. How to pace himself for a twelve round fight.

I agree with all of that. The problem is that it’s much harder to graft onto Itauma than it sounds.

His whole style is built around constant feints, explosive entries and making the other guy hesitant because of what might come back. That style costs energy. And we already saw the problem in rounds 3 and 5: the moment Moses dropped the pace, Hrgovic started showing him far less respect, walking him down and letting his own hands go. That forced Itauma onto the back foot, moving away and allowing Hrgovic to dictate the pace instead.

That matters because Moses’ defence isn’t good enough yet for him to be comfortable at a lower pace. If he isn’t constantly threatening something, he starts getting found a lot more easily.

So yes, he needs to learn how to take rounds off, breathe, steal little breaks and pace himself over 12. But the real challenge is doing that without removing the threat that makes his whole style work. If slowing down just invites the other guy onto him, then pacing isn’t a simple fix.

[keithmoonhangover]

Whether he changes trainers or not, he needs to learn the following in the gym.

1. How to take a round off.
2, How to breath properly between rounds.
3. How and when to take a short in-round breaks.
4, When to throw fast punches without much zip on them.
5. How to pace himself for a twelve round fight.

I agree with all of that. The problem is that it’s much harder to graft onto Itauma than it sounds.

His whole style is built around constant feints, explosive entries and making the other guy hesitant because of what might come back. That style costs energy. And we already saw the problem in rounds 3 and 5: the moment Moses dropped the pace, Hrgovic started showing him far less respect, walking him down and letting his own hands go. That forced Itauma onto the back foot, moving away and allowing Hrgovic to dictate the pace instead.

That matters because Moses’ defence isn’t good enough yet for him to be comfortable at a lower pace. If he isn’t constantly threatening something, he starts getting found a lot more easily.

So yes, he needs to learn how to take rounds off, breathe, steal little breaks and pace himself over 12. But the real challenge is doing that without removing the threat that makes his whole style work. If slowing down just invites the other guy onto him, then pacing isn’t a simple fix.

If Manny Stewart or Angelo Dundee were still alive and they took over as his trainer, they would change him. He has to change, if he doesn't, the same thing is going to happen again.

[Ezzard]

He was wound up tight. The push at the weigh-in. The huge early onslaught. I think his corner were poor in the fight itself.

But how many times have we seen a guy look close to stopping his opponent, punch himself out, and then get stopped? Haye, Benn...countless others... Moses seemed to be high on the Tyson-esque highlight reel and instead just needed to win.

To have won all those rounds by a huge margin tells me he is more than capable of winning that fight. He wasn't prepared for that kind of fight. And he got bad advice in the ring.

His chin seems sound.

If he's mentally okay he should win a title at some point.

[Nightmare Roy]

I rewatched the fight today, if he wants it he can still have a great future, brilliant skills, great heart, chin seems solid, just needs to realise some guys just will not be knocked out, even bangers like Tyson and Lewis found this out fairly early.

The corner should have told him to slow his horses too and take some rounds off.

Big respect to Herg though, he proper rope a doped him, what a chin, the Croatian Rocky Balboa

[coneye]

Whether he changes trainers or not, he needs to learn the following in the gym.

1. How to take a round off.
2, How to breath properly between rounds.
3. How and when to take a short in-round breaks.
4, When to throw fast punches without much zip on them.
5. How to pace himself for a twelve round fight.

I agree with all of that. The problem is that it’s much harder to graft onto Itauma than it sounds.

His whole style is built around constant feints, explosive entries and making the other guy hesitant because of what might come back. That style costs energy. And we already saw the problem in rounds 3 and 5: the moment Moses dropped the pace, Hrgovic started showing him far less respect, walking him down and letting his own hands go. That forced Itauma onto the back foot, moving away and allowing Hrgovic to dictate the pace instead.

That matters because Moses’ defence isn’t good enough yet for him to be comfortable at a lower pace. If he isn’t constantly threatening something, he starts getting found a lot more easily.

So yes, he needs to learn how to take rounds off, breathe, steal little breaks and pace himself over 12. But the real challenge is doing that without removing the threat that makes his whole style work. If slowing down just invites the other guy onto him, then pacing isn’t a simple fix.

Good points, but its all par for the course , to keep them off he has to keep them worried , and your correct than can cause a fighter to have to put pressure on go forward , ect ect and all that you say then gas ,

So you raised them poinyts and there excellent points so what does he do,

well he certainly does'nt do what he has been doing , go forward winging heavy shots every time,, He must learn a few things its not one its a culmination of things to do ,,,, start with jab and set his punches up more , learn to SLIP a lot more . LEarn to apply body pressure , He applys punch pressure trouble with that is they can do what Flip done and just simply step back , Moses has good feet , he forces them back with punches he's not learnt to force body pressure just being there and slip leaving two hands to punch and above all he should recognise that his style NEEDS TREMENDOUS FITNESS and he's young enough to have the fitness needed .

But most of all he needs someone who knows these things . and who can show him ..

I don't know , what experience you have coaching , boxing ect , it does;nt matter but the point is you idenitified a problem , WHY DID'NT HIS WELL PAID TRAINER

[Coco]

It will also be important to see how this affects him mentally.

Obviously a super talented fighter, may well learn and come back even better.

Could completely ruin him if his confidence is shot

[gilgamesh]

Whether he changes trainers or not, he needs to learn the following in the gym.

1. How to take a round off.
2, How to breath properly between rounds.
3. How and when to take a short in-round breaks.
4, When to throw fast punches without much zip on them.
5. How to pace himself for a twelve round fight.

And most importantly and perhaps also most difficult. He needs to learn how to do all that without losing what made him a good fighter in the first place.

[Coco]

Whether he changes trainers or not, he needs to learn the following in the gym.

1. How to take a round off.
2, How to breath properly between rounds.
3. How and when to take a short in-round breaks.
4, When to throw fast punches without much zip on them.
5. How to pace himself for a twelve round fight.

And most importantly and perhaps also most difficult. He needs to learn how to do all that without losing what made him a good fighter in the first place.

Exactly that.

Using the example of David Price, a destroyer for a period, went gun-shy, plenty of other examples too.

I thought Ryan Rhodes was never the same after Jason Matthews

[IRL25]

Whether he changes trainers or not, he needs to learn the following in the gym.

1. How to take a round off.
2, How to breath properly between rounds.
3. How and when to take a short in-round breaks.
4, When to throw fast punches without much zip on them.
5. How to pace himself for a twelve round fight.

And most importantly and perhaps also most difficult. He needs to learn how to do all that without losing what made him a good fighter in the first place.

Exactly that.

Using the example of David Price, a destroyer for a period, went gun-shy, plenty of other examples too.

I thought Ryan Rhodes was never the same after Jason Matthews

A good example in my eyes as prior to the first Tony Thompson fight he was 15-0 with 13 Knockouts had the British and Commonwealth titles and was one successful defence away from winning the Lonsdale Belt before Frank Maloney (as was) put him with Tony Thompson who had recently fought Wladimir Klitschko and I thought it was a massive gamble that could backfire at the time and (was sadly) proven right and I thought putting Moses Itauma in with a proven world level operator in Flip Hrgovic was the same kind of gamble by Queensberry in my eyes. But Itauma is young enough to bounce back from it and would have taken a lot away from that defeat

[Controversial]

David Haye's view on it, he talks sense

[Nightmare Roy]

Apparently Moses has been asking for the rematch, im sure he could win if he trains well and fights properly. Can't see it happening though, Herg would rightly want some serious cheddar.

[KiwiRider]

Apparently Moses has been asking for the rematch, im sure he could win if he trains well and fights properly. Can't see it happening though, Herg would rightly want some serious cheddar.

I think it all hinges on Frank Sanchez.
He got step aside money for this fight and the guarantee he would fight the winner.
Of course he could take another wedge, but from what we saw on the weekend, I bet he really fancies his chances.
And sometimes being a world champion beats money and makes money.

[Nightmare Roy]

Apparently Moses has been asking for the rematch, im sure he could win if he trains well and fights properly. Can't see it happening though, Herg would rightly want some serious cheddar.

I think it all hinges on Frank Sanchez.
He got step aside money for this fight and the guarantee he would fight the winner.
Of course he could take another wedge, but from what we saw on the weekend, I bet he really fancies his chances.
And sometimes being a world champion beats money and makes money.

True but if they offered him silly money with another guarantee, maybe he'd go for it, it's great getting paid for doing nothing. Lennox Lewis got $4m 30 odd years ago not to fight Mike Tyson. I'd not fight Tyson for a lot less.

[overhand_right]

A rematch is the worst option for Moses. He's out of his depth and needs to change his temperament and style. Hrg will walk him down, the nightmarish flashbacks will kick in and he'll begin to unravel.

Back to back losses to Hrg will ruin him psychologically and perhaps physically.