Itauma Suffers First Career Defeat as Hrgovic Claims Vacant IBF Title

Twenty-one-year-old boxer Moses Itauma suffered his first career defeat in August 2026, losing to Filip Hrgovic by a ninth-round stoppage. The stoppage resulted in Hrgovic claiming the vacant IBF world title. Frank Warren addressed Itauma’s return, saying: “Moses will be back in January, if not before, but January’s looking like the date.”

Frank Warren stated that a rematch between Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic could not be arranged because Hrgovic had agreed to fight Frank Sanchez. Warren said: “He wanted a rematch with Filip which couldn’t be done because Filip’s got Frank Sanchez, who had agreed to step aside.”

Warren stated that there are no problems making matches with the involved heavyweights because they all want to hold the four belts. Warren said: “I would like Moses to be in with a name to start with. I want to get that done so he can focus on doing what he wants to do — win a world title.”

What do you think Moses Itauma’s next fight should be when he returns in January, as Frank Warren plans?