Itauma confident of second chance at world title
· Yahoo Sports
British heavyweight boxer Moses Itauma says he is sure he will get another chance to become a world champion.
The 21-year-old lost his first world title fight to croatian Filip Hrgovic in August, missing the chance to become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson in 1986.
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Itauma had previously won all 14 of his professional fights, 12 by stoppage, establishing himself as one of the division's most exciting young prospects.
Speaking to BBC South East and Radio Kent in his first interview since the defeat, the Chatham fighter was choosing to see the positives from the experience.
"I always say I'd rather be third than second because if you're third you know you couldn't be number one," he said.
"When you're second you know you could have been number one. So that's exactly how I feel. I'm just gutted.
"Nevertheless, I'm 21. I'm 15 fights in. Of course I'm going to have my opportunity again."
The experienced Hrgovic, 34, won Olympic bronze in 2016 and went into the bout with a record of 20 wins and one defeat, with 15 victories inside the distance.
Itauma still managed to control most of the fight and scored a second-round knockdown, but faded as his relentless output caught up with him.
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Hrgovic described Itauma as "really good, special, very fast" and the most "talented kid" he had ever fought.
"It was big shock for him, big humiliation, so maybe it's end of his career if he's not mentally tough. If he recovers from this loss, mentally, it will be hard for anyone to ever beat him again," Hrgovic added.
Itauma expects the experience will only make him stronger.
"It taught me a lot. I walked away from the fight knowing there was something I learnt there that I couldn't get from sparring, reading books or what the coach would be able to tell me," he said.
"What happened there I had to see for myself. I'll be back." Itauma was born in Slovakia to a Slovakian mother and Nigerian father before he and his brothers suffered racial abuse and the family moved to Kent.
He says he is proud of his Chatham upbringing and the support the people have given him in the pursuit of his boxing dreams.
"I remember after the fight I went to the gym, and this guy was so starstruck to see me. He said 'I walked the same road that you walked, I went to the same school that you did'," said Itauma.
"The only difference between us is I put one or two hours aside to focus on my boxing. He did say he's coming to my next fight, and I thanked him. I really appreciate it."
The fighter said he was "100%" confident his next title challenge would be in 2027.
"My identity as a boxer is still deeply rooted in me. A loss is not going to change that," he said.
"I lost a boxing fight, that's it. Even though I didn't get the W, I'm proud of my performance for what I was, and I enjoyed it.
"Life is about adrenaline, pressure, high expectations."