Moses Itauma will return in January with Ben Davison still training him, Frank Warren confirmed to Playbook Boxing following a team meeting to discuss his defeat against Filip Hrgovic.
Warren identified Itauma’s pursuit of a knockout as the mistake that exhausted him. Keeping Davison means their next camp must produce a more controlled approach, with Itauma learning to win rounds without trying to finish his opponent with every punch.
“He’s staying with Ben and the team,” Warren said to Playbook Boxing. “You’ve got to judge him now on his results, which is what we’ll do.”
Warren said Itauma and his team met at the Queensberry offices on Friday, giving everyone time to review the defeat before discussing changes. He did not name a January opponent.
The promoter believes Itauma’s power would have stopped most heavyweights that night, claiming “98%” would not have survived. Hrgovic did, and that exposed the danger of building a fight around an early finish. Once the knockout failed to arrive, Itauma had spent energy he needed for the later rounds.
Warren described a fighter who needed to return to his jab, move, and take an easier round. Those are practical adjustments, but Itauma must be willing to make them while an opponent is still in front of him. Having the tools in training is different from choosing to use them under pressure.
A January victory would get Itauma moving again. The more useful evidence will be how he achieves it. Another quick stoppage could leave the questions from the Hrgovic defeat unanswered, especially if the opponent offers little resistance.
Davison’s continued involvement gives the partnership an opportunity to demonstrate that it can correct the pacing issue. Warren praised Itauma’s heart and believes he can challenge for another world title fairly soon, but that ambition depends on developing an approach that works when his power cannot settle the fight early.
