British heavyweight boxing prospect Moses Itauma remains entirely confident that his journey toward becoming a world champion is far from over, despite suffering the first defeat of his professional career earlier this year.
The 21-year-old fighter missed out on a historic milestone in August when he lost his maiden world title fight to seasoned Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic. Had Itauma secured the victory, he would have broken records to become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson claimed the prestigious belt back in 1986. Instead, the ambitious Chatham fighter was forced to confront the harsh realities of elite-level combat sports after a grueling encounter that tested his physical limits.
Prior to that high-stakes championship clash, Itauma had enjoyed a flawless ascent through the professional ranks. He had won all 14 of his opening professional bouts, an impressive 12 of which came by way of stoppage, quickly establishing himself as one of the most exciting and dynamic young prospects in the entire heavyweight division.
Breaking his post-fight silence in an exclusive interview with BBC South East and Radio Kent, Itauma reflected on the painful setback with remarkable maturity, choosing to extract valuable life and athletic lessons from the experience rather than wallowing in despair.
"I always say I’d rather be third than second because if you’re third you know you couldn’t be number one," Itauma explained during the interview. "When you’re second you know you could have been number one. So that’s exactly how I feel. I’m just gutted. Nevertheless, I’m 21. I’m 15 fights in. Of course I’m going to have my opportunity again."
The bout against the vastly experienced Hrgovic proved to be a formidable test of endurance and skill. The 34-year-old Croatian opponent brought an extensive amateur pedigree to the ring, having claimed an Olympic bronze medal at the 2016 Games, alongside a formidable professional record of 20 wins, just a single defeat, and 15 victories inside the distance.
Despite the gulf in experience, Itauma demonstrated his immense talent during the early stages of the encounter. He managed to control the majority of the fight’s tempo and even sent Hrgovic crashing to the canvas with a dramatic second-round knockdown. However, as the championship rounds progressed, Itauma’s relentless offensive output ultimately caught up with him, causing his stamina to fade and allowing the battle-hardened Hrgovic to turn the tide.
Following the grueling bout, Hrgovic was quick to praise the young British contender, describing Itauma as "really good, special, very fast" and hailing him as the most "talented kid" he had ever shared a professional ring with.
The Croatian veteran also offered a frank assessment of the psychological hurdles facing the young challenger after such a high-profile setback. "It was big shock for him, big humiliation, so maybe it’s end of his career if he’s not mentally tough. If he recovers from this loss, mentally, it will be hard for anyone to ever beat him again," Hrgovic added.
Itauma, however, firmly believes that the adversity will only serve to forge him into a more complete and resilient fighter. He views the loss not as a failure, but as an irreplaceable educational milestone that no amount of preparation could replicate.
"It taught me a lot. I walked away from the fight knowing there was something I learnt there that I couldn’t get from sparring, reading books or what the coach would be able to tell me," he reflected. "What happened there I had to see for myself. I’ll be back."
The boxer’s resilience is deeply rooted in his personal history and upbringing. Born in Slovakia to a Slovakian mother and a Nigerian father, Itauma and his brothers experienced racial abuse during their early childhoods before the family ultimately made the decision to relocate to Kent in search of a safer, more supportive environment.
Today, the Chatham fighter remains fiercely proud of his local roots and deeply appreciative of the unwavering support he has received from his community as he pursues his ambitious boxing dreams. He recounted a touching encounter that occurred shortly after his world title defeat, which served as a poignant reminder of his connection to the people who have watched him grow.
"I remember after the fight I went to the gym, and this guy was so starstruck to see me. He said ‘I walked the same road that you walked, I went to the same school that you did,’" Itauma shared. "The only difference between us is I put one or two hours aside to focus on my boxing. He did say he’s coming to my next fight, and I thanked him. I really appreciate it."
Looking ahead to the future, Itauma is already setting concrete milestones for his career trajectory. He stated that he is "100%" confident his next world title challenge will materialize in 2027, giving himself ample time to develop further under the guidance of his coaching team and absorb the lessons of his first defeat.
"My identity as a boxer is still deeply rooted in me. A loss is not going to change that," he emphasized. "I lost a boxing fight, that’s it. Even though I didn’t get the W, I’m proud of my performance for what I was, and I enjoyed it. Life is about adrenaline, pressure, high expectations."
