Frank Warren reveals where Moses Itauma went wrong against Filip Hrgovic… and expects beaten Brit to want rematch

FRANK WARREN reckons Moses Itauma’s desperation to knock Filip Hrgovic out led to his own downfall. Itauma was miles ahead in the bout before his gas tank completely drained in round nine – leading to Hrgovic’s shock stoppage. Filip Hrgovic stopped Moses Itauma in nine rounds Credit: Getty Promoter Frank Warren watched in shock Credit: PA Hall of Fame promoter Warren pleaded for the 21-year-old – who had never gone past the sixth – to box behind his jab. But the British prodigy was hunting for the knockout – and ultimately punched himself out to the point of exhaustion. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Warren, 74, told SunSport: “He got clipped and that was it. He was trying very hard to knock him out. “I mean, it was a tremendous fight. How exciting was it? It was an exciting fight and right at the end he just unfortunately got caught and that was it. “And maybe a bit of inexperience from that told, but he’ll learn from it. I hope he can come back, and I’m sure he will come back. “And you got to take your hat off to Filip who took the shots. And at times, there was a couple of moments in the fight where you thought he was going, but he had the resolve and the will and he came through. “I was screaming at him, ‘Just use your jab, keep him on the back foot, keep him off balance.’ “But he was determined to knock him out, and that was the undoing to be quite honest.” Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It has already been a blockbuster year inside the ring, and it is not going to stop anytime soon! All eyes are focused on when Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will get in the ring, with the pair due to finally settle their decade-long rivalry. Katie Taylor calls time on her illustrious career this weekend at Croke Park as she faces Flora Pili, with the chance to become a three-time undisputed champion. Conor Benn fights for his first world title one week later against Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas – it is The Destroyer’s second bout for Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. October’s action doesn’t stop either, with Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois facing off in the rematch of their thrilling fight in May, while Canelo Alvarez returns against Christian Mbili on Halloween. Here’s all the big fights coming up… September Sat 5 – Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili – DAZN Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN Sep 12 – Jai Opetaia vs Noel Mikaelian Sat 19 – Isaac Cruz vs Nestor Bravo – DAZN October Sat 3 – Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace – DAZN Sat 17 – Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 – DAZN Sat 31 – Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbili – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. British former world champions of the past including Daniel Dubois and David Haye have bounced back from early defeats in their careers. And Warren said: “He’ll come back. He’s a young man and I’m sure he’ll come back and he’ll learn from it. “Daniel Dubois, look where he is now. He’s champion. You look at lots of fighters over the years who’ve lost and come back. “David Haye’s a prime example. I believe he’ll come back. You’ve seen he’s got tremendous skills and talent and he’s got to learn from it. “It’s about learning. Boxing, especially for young fighters, is about learning. It’s like learning the craft, the tricks of the trade. “When he was in trouble, he didn’t have the thing to walk on, close the gap or anything. “He was still standing back and letting shots go rather than trying to narrow the gap and nullify him. He just didn’t do that. Itauma totally dominated the fight “He was in control and he stopped using his jab. That was the problem. But anyway, it is what it is. “We can’t change it. In the history books, what it is, is what it is. And he’s got to learn from it and come back. “And in the meantime, Filip is the champion and that’s life, that’s boxing. That’s why it’s so exciting.” Hrgovic, 34, now has to face Cuban Frank Sanchez, also 34, as part of the deal he initially agreed to with Itauma. Itauma – who was stretchered out of the ring – meanwhile was discharged from hospital and spoke out to thank his fans in the wake of his first loss. Warren now must focus on rebuilding the beaten Brit – and may have to try and talk him out of wanting an immediate rematch. He said: “I think we got to let him sort himself out and see how he is. I mean, he’s got a problem with his leg. “He definitely had a problem with his leg. He’ll want to do it [a rematch] because he’s a fighting man. But, we’ll have to think about it.” Comment now