Filip Hrgovic and Moses Itauma both expected to return in early 2027

Moses Itauma is back in the gym preparing to return to the ring in the new year, according to his promoter Frank Warren.

The 21-year-old heavyweight was widely expected to defeat Filip Hrgovic in August and win the vacant IBF title. So it seemed, too, for much of the opening eight rounds as Itauma dropped Hrgovic early and built a seemingly unassailable lead on the scorecards.

Yet Itauma, 14-1 (12 KOs), had never previously been beyond six rounds and, with the Croatian proving both stubborn and dangerous, the young contender’s energy reserves started to falter.

Clearly exhausted and struggling to stand, Itauma was rescued by the referee in the ninth round before a precautionary visit to hospital.

Warren has guided Itauma since he turned professional at the start of 2023. The youngster’s aim back then was to break Mike Tyson’s record and become the youngest heavyweight beltholder in history, a feat achieved by Tyson in 1986 at the age of 20.

Plenty have now come out – like George Groves this week – and voiced their concerns about Itauma’s approach. Yet any negativity was thin on the ground prior to his first defeat. However, Warren admits there will have to be changes made if the Ben Davison-trained Itauma is to fulfil his considerable potential.

"He's going to fight very early next year, I've spoken to him a few times," the promoter told IFLTV.

"He's actually back in the gym. I'm going to sit down with the team next week and we’re going to go through everything.

"The dust is settled, we can speak calmly and clearly.

“I’m not going to say he’s okay. He's very disappointed because, first of all, he was winning the fight.

"He knows what he did wrong. And as I've said, it’s not rocket science, there has got to be some serious changes."

As for Hrgovic, who is also promoted by Warren, he too is expected to return at the start of 2027.

Frank Sanchez, who was paid to step aside to allow Hrgovic and Itauma meet for the vacant title, is contracted to be the man in the opposite corner.

Hrgovic, however, has voiced his desire to attempt to unify with Daniel Dubois – the man who defeated Hrgovic in 2024 – at the top of his list.

Dubois, the WBO beltholder, is due to rematch Fabio Wardley next month.

“He’s due to fight Sanchez,” Warren said of Hrgovic, who was left nursing cuts and bruises following the win over Itauma.

“We’ll see, if something else comes up, then we’ll talk to Sanchez but that [fight versus Sanchez] is his contractual obligation.”