British heavyweight boxer Moses Itauma has released his first video message following his stunning defeat in the IBF world title fight against Croatia's Filip Hrgovic. The 21-year-old, who was considered the outright favourite going into the bout, paid respect to his more experienced opponent and assured fans that the experience will make him stronger. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the Briton's Instagram page.
First Message After the Defeat
In the video, Itauma honestly acknowledged his opponent's superiority and congratulated him on the win. "It wasn't my night. We were reaching for greatness, but we fell short against a more experienced fighter. Congratulations to Filip Hrgovic on the victory. Although I didn't get the result I wanted, I believe I gained experience that I will use in future fights. Take care of yourselves. I will be back," the Briton stated. The tone of the message sent an important signal: instead of making excuses, the young title challenger took responsibility for the outcome and signalled his readiness to learn from the first serious defeat of his career.
How the Fight Unfolded in London
The London bout started on Itauma's terms: the young Briton dominated the first half of the contest, comfortably winning rounds on the judges' scorecards and even dropping Hrgovic for a knockdown. However, the gamble on an early knockout backfired on Moses. Hrgovic weathered the opening pressure and evened out the fight, while the Briton's energy began to fade. In the ninth round, the exhausted Itauma stopped moving forward and started absorbing heavy punches. The referee stopped the fight at the same moment the Briton's corner threw in the white towel.
Acknowledging the Opponent's Experience
The key element of the message was the public admission that the more experienced Hrgovic proved stronger in the crucial moments. For a 21-year-old boxer whom bookmakers and experts had listed as the favourite, such an admission looks like a sign of maturity: rather than disputing the judging or the circumstances, he acknowledged that his plan for a "quick" fight did not work against a fighter who knows how to absorb pressure and wait for mistakes. Hrgovic himself, after the bout, also pointed to Itauma's main mistake that cost him the title fight, confirming the theory of a tactical turning point in the second half of the contest.
What Comes Next
By ending his message with "I will be back," Itauma has effectively announced his return to the title race. For the British boxing school, this is an important precedent: even a sensational loss in a title fight does not diminish a young fighter's potential but instead becomes material for growth. Now, fans and analysts will be closely watching how the Briton restructures his preparation and tactics so as not to repeat the scenario in which early pressure turns into a lack of energy by the ninth round.
