Tony Bellew’s quick reaction to Moses Itauma’s loss against Filip Hrgovic has everyone buzzing.
Tony Bellew shared some exciting thoughts about the future of boxing after rising British star Moses Itauma lost to Filip Hrgovic at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.
Moses Itauma was the name on everyone’s lips as he entered the ring, following a path similar to that of Anthony Joshua. The 21-year-old heavyweight came in with a perfect 14-0 record, winning 12 fights by knockout and finishing all his bouts within six rounds.
Called the next big thing in boxing, Itauma’s IBC World Championship match caught the attention of many top athletes. Even Prince Naseem Hamed said the young Brit might one day be better than Joshua and Tyson Fury, becoming the country’s best boxer.
But things didn’t go as planned. Hrgovic got under Itauma’s skin with a short comment on stage that led to an unexpected reaction. Hrgovic himself is a strong fighter, only losing once in 22 fights, to Daniel Dubois in 2024.
The fight was intense, with both boxers trading blows. But Itauma began to tire in the later rounds and couldn’t knock Hrgovic down. In the ninth round, the referee stopped the fight after Itauma’s corner threw in the towel.
Even though Itauma left the ring on a stretcher and was taken to hospital, he still earned a lot of respect – especially from Tony Bellew. Bellew quickly took to social media after the fight, saying Itauma will become a world champion after learning from this experience.
“I’m telling you now! Moses Itauma WILL be a world champion! He’s going to learn so much from tonight,” Bellew wrote on Twitter (X). “What stood out to me was how brave and tough Moses was. We knew Filip was strong but tonight showed Moses is tough too. Once he learns how to pace himself over 12 rounds, he’s going to rule for a while!”
Bellew also praised Hrgovic’s toughness. “Filip did an amazing job getting through the storm! His chin should be studied,” he added.
Many fans agreed with Bellew, while others criticized Itauma’s coach, Ben Davison, for his strategy. One fan said, “Talent and heart always win in the end! This kid’s heading to the top if he keeps working hard.” Another wrote, “Ben Davison should be sacked. He should have told Moses to slow down and pace himself—Hrgovic has never been knocked out.” A third added, “What was Moses’ team thinking? Why rush in the later rounds when you’ve won every round? Lack of experience. But Moses is one of the smartest fighters I’ve seen. The future looks bright.”
Now, Moses Itauma will have to wait for another chance to climb the British boxing ladder, especially as fans look forward to the big fight later this year between Fury and Joshua to see who will lead the legacy.