Itauma makes January return decision

Moses Itauma will return to the ring in January with trainer Ben Davison still in his corner, after the first defeat of his professional career against Filip Hrgovic in August.

Promoter Frank Warren said the British heavyweight will face a step down in opposition next time out. The team around him will remain the same, despite criticism of Davison and the training staff over Itauma’s conditioning.

The 21-year-old challenged for the vacant IBF heavyweight title at London’s O2 Arena on August 29. He controlled the early rounds and dropped Hrgovic in the second, but tired badly and was stopped in the ninth. Davison threw in the towel as the referee intervened, and Itauma was taken to hospital. The fight was the first of his career to go beyond the sixth round, and it left his record at 14 wins and one defeat.

Warren called a meeting to dissect the loss and discuss the next steps, then explained the outcome to Playbook Boxing. “There has been a conversation, and the proof will be in the pudding,” he said. “He is staying with Ben and the team. That is where he is at. You have got to judge him now on his results, which is what we will do.”

He defended Davison and took responsibility for the fight himself. “It is always the case: if a fighter is winning, the trainer is great. If he gets beat, he is not. I signed off on that fight. At the end of the day, if any of them fight, that is down to me. I accept my responsibility for that, and everyone has to accept responsibility for it,” Warren said.

Warren pointed to Anthony Joshua, who is back with Davison for his December fight against Tyson Fury. “There is a reason for that,” he said. “You expect certain things to happen in fights and certain things to happen in training. It is what it is; we have to move forward. It is exciting times. Next year is going to be so exciting, and there are some good trainers, but there are not a lot of really good coaches around that teach boxing.”

The 34-year-old Hrgovic became Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion with the win. He is expected to return in January in a homecoming fight in Croatia. Frank Sanchez, the IBF mandatory challenger, took a step-aside fee to let Hrgovic and Itauma fight for the vacant belt and is now set for his shot early next year.