Dillian Whyte Breaks Down Moses Itauma’s Title Loss to Filip Hrgovic

The boxing world was stunned last month when Filip Hrgovic stopped Moses Itauma to claim the IBF heavyweight title. Now, former opponent and fellow title challenger Dillian Whyte has shared his perspective on the young contender’s harrowing defeat.

Itauma and Whyte clashed in Saudi Arabia last August in the Briton’s first career main event. The fight ended swiftly, with the rising star dispatching Whyte in the opening round to accelerate his climb up the heavyweight rankings.

Last month, Itauma aimed to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history, behind only Mike Tyson. However, the 21-year-old fell short as exhaustion became his undoing; Hrgovic halted him in round nine despite Itauma winning every preceding round.

“No, I wasn’t surprised [by Hrgovic’s win] because that was a part of our strategy going into the fight but, unfortunately, the fight didn’t go very long and we didn’t get to that part of the strategy because other things were happening.

“I couldn’t really be the way that I needed to be and do what I really needed to do, but no, I wasn’t surprised [to see Hrgovic beat him that way].”

Whyte proceeded to explain why he believes their bout may have contributed to Itauma’s loss against the Croatian.

“The worst thing that Moses did was beat me in a round because then he started to think that he was invincible and that he didn’t have to train and do things the right way.

“He thought – because he got me out of there early – that he would be able to do it to everyone else.”

Whyte has been absent from the ring since his brief encounter with Itauma, but “The Body Snatcher” is now linked to a return under the Zuffa Boxing banner, potentially facing fan favorite Johnny Fisher in an all-British heavyweight showdown.

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