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.
Fresh materials — UFC News
Natalia Silva Criticizes Valentina Shevchenko's Reaction to UFC 332 Title Win
Natalia Silva, the new UFC women's flyweight champion, took issue with Valentina Shevchenko's lukewarm congratulations following Silva's victory at UFC 332. Silva secured the vacant flyweight title by unanimous decision against Wang Cong last weekend. Shevchenko, who had to vacate the belt
John Martin's PFL-MVP MMA Exit: Rich Chou Weighs In
John Martin has left his CEO role at the PFL-MVP MMA organization. Rich Chou, a figure with extensive experience in promotions like Rumble on the Rock, Strikeforce, and Bellator MMA, shared his perspective on Martin's departure from the mixed martial arts federation led by Jake Pau
Alex Pereira's Potential Retirement Fight at UFC 335, Says UFC Legend
Michael Bisping, a UFC Hall of Famer, speculates that Alex Pereira might retire if he loses to Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335. Pereira is set to compete in the heavyweight co-main event, marking his return to the division after a contested decision loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250.
Full Fight Card for The Inner Circle 34: Suriyanlek vs. Yunusov Headline Bout
Suriyanlek Por Yenying, a veteran fighter who previously faced a serious injury during a training run, will headline The Inner Circle 34. The complete lineup for ONE’s upcoming event is now set, with a notable comeback story opening the card. Suriyanlek Por Yenying is scheduled to fight R
UFC Veteran Advocates for AI Judging After Controversial Scorecards
Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo proposed radical changes to MMA judging following the Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong flyweight title fight at UFC 332. Silva defeated Wang Cong by unanimous decision to claim the vacant flyweight title. While Silva appeared dominant, two out of thr
Sean O’Malley Responds to Payton Talbott’s UFC 332 Callout
Sean O’Malley, the former UFC bantamweight champion, has responded to Payton Talbott’s direct callout following Talbott’s victory at UFC 332. Talbott secured a significant win over former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo via first-round TKO in the co-main event. Following the impressi