Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed that British heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma will make his eagerly anticipated return to the ring in January, marking the first step in a carefully structured rebuilding process following the maiden defeat of his professional career.
The 21-year-old Chatham fighter, widely regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in the global heavyweight division, suffered his first professional setback back in August. In a high-stakes encounter, Itauma was stopped in the ninth round by Croatia’s formidable Filip Hrgovic, a bout that saw Hrgovic claim the vacant IBF heavyweight title. Despite the disappointing conclusion, Itauma’s performance in the early stages of the fight demonstrated the immense talent that has long made him a fixture of discussion among boxing purists and promoters alike.
Reflecting on the August defeat, Itauma had enjoyed a strong start, using his speed and technical sharpness to dominate the opening rounds. However, as the championship distance wore on, the young Briton began to tire, eventually finding himself overwhelmed by the superior experience, resilience, and pressure of his Croatian opponent. The loss temporarily halted a meteoric rise that had seen Itauma fast-tracked toward world-title contention following a series of devastating, high-profile performances inside the squared circle.
Speaking about the aftermath of the defeat and the path forward, Warren revealed that a constructive dialogue has already taken place between the promotional team and the fighter.
"We had a constructive meeting a couple of weeks ago. We let the dust settle, talked about what happened against Hrgovic," Warren said, offering insight into how the team has processed the setback.
The loss has not diminished the long-term ambitions of the camp, nor has it dampened the spirits of the young contender. With a professional record of 14 wins from 15 fights—including an impressive 12 victories coming inside the distance via knockout—Itauma remains one of the division’s most dangerous punchers. Rather than shying away from elite competition, the team is focused on correcting the flaws exposed in August and getting the heavyweight back under the bright lights as soon as possible.
Warren confirmed that concrete details regarding the upcoming January assignment are already being finalized and will be shared with the public very soon.
"He’s fighting in January. We’ll be announcing his fight in the next couple of weeks," Warren stated.
For a fighter who was thrust into championship waters at a remarkably young age, the January bout will serve as a crucial test of character and adaptability. Long touted as a future star and a potential savior of the British heavyweight scene, Itauma now faces the classic boxing rite of passage: bouncing back from adversity. The boxing world will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how the Chatham puncher responds to his first career loss and whether he can regain the fearsome momentum that characterized his early professional run.
Warren emphasized that despite the temporary detour, the ultimate goal remains firmly in sight, with a clear timeline established for Itauma’s return to the summit of the heavyweight division.
"Moses comes back and has a fight and wants to be in the mix," Warren added, underlining the fighter’s desire to re-establish himself among the contenders. "He’s only 21 and he wants 2027 to be the year he wins a world title."
