Itauma unlikely to receive Hrgovic rematch

Moses Itauma, the 21‑year‑old British heavyweight, was stopped in the ninth round by world champion Filip Hrgovic at The O2 in London on Saturday night, ending his bid for the IBF title. Despite delivering a dramatic second‑round knockdown that briefly put Hrgovic on the canvas, Itauma’s energy waned, and the Croatian fighter recovered to secure a stoppage victory, leaving the young contender without an immediate chance to contest the belt again.

The loss means Itauma is now sidelined by the IBF’s mandatory challenger system, which places Frank Sanchez as the next required opponent for Hrgovic. Sanchez, the organization’s number‑one contender, had previously agreed to allow the Itauma‑Hrgovic fight to proceed, but the governing body insists that no further bouts—including potential unification matches—can occur until Sanchez’s mandatory challenge is satisfied. Consequently, Hrgovic must face Sanchez before pursuing any unification fights with other champions such as Agit Kabayel, Daniel Dubois or Murat Gassiev.

Sanchez’s manager, Mike Borao, confirmed to Sky Sports that the IBF will enforce the mandatory order, noting that Queensberry Promotions will likely partner on the forthcoming Sanchez‑Hrgovic showdown. Borao praised Itauma’s performance, likening his potential rebound to Daniel Dubois after his own first loss, and expressed optimism that the British fighter will return stronger. In the meantime, he congratulated Hrgovic’s camp and urged the champion to keep the title “warm” while preparing for the inevitable clash with Sanchez.

⚡ Effects Interpreter