Bellew Tips Itauma to Win Hrgovic Rematch

Former world champion Tony Bellew believes Moses Itauma would beat Filip Hrgovic if the two heavyweights meet again following their dramatic first encounter.

Hrgovic handed Itauma the first defeat of his professional career when he stopped the British heavyweight prospect in the ninth round of their vacant IBF heavyweight title fight.

Itauma had dominated large portions of the contest and appeared on course for a world-title victory before his energy levels dropped significantly in the later rounds.

Hrgovic took advantage of Itauma’s fatigue, eventually forcing the referee to stop the fight in the ninth round and becoming Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion.

Despite the defeat, Bellew remains convinced that Itauma has the technical qualities required to overcome Hrgovic in a rematch.

Speaking on the Fight Your Corner podcast, Bellew argued that Hrgovic did not seriously hurt Itauma during their first meeting and suggested that exhaustion was the decisive factor.

Bellew said Itauma was technically too good for Hrgovic and would expect the 21-year-old to level the score if given another opportunity.

The assessment follows Bellew’s earlier prediction that Itauma would eventually become a heavyweight world champion despite his defeat.

The British prospect had entered the first fight with an unbeaten record and considerable expectations after rapidly establishing himself as one of the division’s most promising young fighters.

However, the contest exposed questions about his ability to maintain his pace over 12 rounds. Itauma had never previously gone beyond the sixth round as a professional before facing Hrgovic.

The loss has prompted calls for Itauma to make adjustments to his preparation and conditioning before returning to world-title level.

A rematch, however, may not happen immediately. Hrgovic is expected to face mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez in his next IBF heavyweight title defence, potentially delaying another meeting with Itauma.

For Bellew, the first fight has not changed his belief in Itauma’s long-term potential. Instead, he sees the defeat as an important learning experience that could ultimately make the young heavyweight a stronger fighter.

Itauma will now have to rebuild his career and demonstrate that he has addressed the conditioning issues exposed by Hrgovic before another opportunity to reclaim the world title emerges.