Moses Itauma Reflects on His First Pro Loss to Filip Hrgovic: "We Aimed for Greatness and Came Up Short"
Moses Itauma is in good spirits following a concerning conclusion to the first defeat of his professional boxing career.
Itauma faced Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight championship. While Itauma showed promise early on, he ultimately tired in the later rounds. This allowed Hrgovic to stage an unexpected comeback, stopping Itauma in the ninth round.
Despite the dramatic comeback victory that stunned the crowd at The O2 Arena, there were worries about Itauma's condition afterwards. He was taken out on a stretcher and hospitalized, but this appears to have been a precautionary measure, and the defeated heavyweight is maintaining a positive outlook.
In a video shared on the Tunnel Culture Instagram page, Itauma accepted his first loss and stated that he gained valuable experience.
“Yesterday was not my night,” Itauma stated. “We aimed for greatness and we just came up short against a more experienced opponent. I want to congratulate Filip Hrgovic on his victory. Although I didn’t achieve my desired outcome, I believe I gained experience that will be beneficial in future fights.
“I want to express my gratitude to the fans, both inside and outside the arena. You made the atmosphere more special and electrifying than I anticipated. It was a tremendous fight, and I thank Queensberry and DAZN for organizing this event.”
Itauma entered his bout against Hrgovic with considerable anticipation, and some believe his reputation remains strong despite falling short in his title challenge. If Itauma can learn to manage his stamina in future fights, there is still a strong conviction that he can become a world champion.
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