TYSON FURY claims told anyone who would listen that Moses Itauma’s fight with Filip Hrgovic came too early – and it could cost him a $100million career.
Itauma lost his undefeated record and cloak of invincibility in nine rounds at London’s O2 Arena after punching himself out to the point of exhaustion.
3
3
He had never been past six rounds in the 14 bouts he had up until that point and his inexperience led to the dramatic capitulation.
And Fury – only ever beaten by Oleksandr Usyk – says the mental and physical damage on the 21-year-old could cost him a lucrative superstar career.
Fury, 38, told Gareth A Davies: “Knocking out a low-level man is different to knocking out a world-class man. Different power different toughness different.
“Everything is totally different. So from my experience, I said to Frank Warren, I said to everybody who would listen, too soon.
READ MORE IN BOXING
CRACKER
Win stunning £600k 4-Bedroom Luxury Home & BMW X5 for just £1.79 with our discount
TRAIN WRECK
Anthony Joshua ‘likes’ post slamming former trainer after Moses Itauma defeat
“This guy needs another four or five fights. What’s the rush?
“I suppose when you’re trying to build somebody into a superstar and beat records and all that stuff They put them in early and they made a mistake.
“And not only has it cost Moses the $100million career, which I believe he was $100billion dollar athlete.
“Whatever these superstar athletes are your LeBron James’s and all and people think it’s cost him it.”
Most read in Sport
SURGERY SHOCK
Ex-Man Utd star McTominay to undergo heart surgery as statement released
SKIS THE LIMIT
BBC scrap legendary Ski Sunday after 50 YEARS in major broadcasting change
LEGEND GONE
Legendary goalkeeper who spent 22 years at same club dies as tributes pour in
ENZ GAME
Man City agree British record £125million Enzo Fernandez transfer
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
The Home of Boxing in 2026
There’s a massive year of boxing ahead!
It has already been a blockbuster year inside the ring, and it is not going to stop anytime soon!
All eyes are focused on when Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will get in the ring, with the pair due to finally settle their decade-long rivalry.
Katie Taylor calls time on her illustrious career this weekend at Croke Park as she faces Flora Pili, with the chance to become a three-time undisputed champion.
Conor Benn fights for his first world title one week later against Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas – it is The Destroyer’s second bout for Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.
October’s action doesn’t stop either, with Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois facing off in the rematch of their thrilling fight in May, while Canelo Alvarez returns against Christian Mbili on Halloween.
Here’s all the big fights coming up…
September
- Sat 5 – Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili – DAZN
- Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN
- Sep 12 – Jai Opetaia vs Noel Mikaelian
- Sat 19 – Isaac Cruz vs Nestor Bravo – DAZN
October
- Sat 3 – Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace – DAZN
- Sat 17 – Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbili – DAZN
*If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue.
Itauma – who debuted aged 18 with comparisons to a prime Mike Tyson – attempted to become the second youngest heavyweight champion behind only Iron Mike.
He did not even have time to challenge for domestic English and British titles before jumping up to world level.
And Fury – who was 27 and 24 bouts into his career when he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 – argued it was too much too soon.
He said: “If you go from not doing past four rounds It’s jumping into a 12 round world title fight without winning anything along the way.
“If you look at my career I won English, Irish, British, Commonwealth European.
3
“Every international belt was along the way and every world title belt along the way to Lineal Ring Magazine everything you can think of.
“I did it the traditional route. And it’s done like that for a reason.
“Because when you finally get to that point, I was 27 years old when I fought Wladimir Klitschko – I was a 10-1 underdog – I was ready.
“If I’d have fought him at 21 I’d have got knocked out too.
“So everything’s about timing and the time wasn’t ready. Doesn’t mean Moses can’t fight and he’s not a brilliant terrific talent and all that.
“However, when you get knocked out in your first try at something it takes a bit coming back from and you’ve got to show a real mentality and will and want to be a fighter after a performance like that when everything was going well for you.”
Itauma was stretchered out of the ring and hospitalised due to the fatigue suffered in the ring.
And Fury – still in talks to fight Anthony Joshua in November – reckons Itauma’s greatest fight will be to regain his confidence.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
He said: “Mentally, physically, emotionally, it’s difficult. You’ve got you got an absolute monster.”