Amir Khan Backs Moses Itauma to Rebuild After First Pro Loss

Moses Itauma is heading back to work. The 21-year-old, 14-0 with 12 knockouts before August's upset, will return in January 2027 after being stopped by Filip Hrgovic in the ninth round at the O2 Arena. The #6-ranked heavyweight was favoured to become one of the youngest world champions the division has seen — and then the night unravelled.

Itauma started fast, dazzlingly so, but appeared to punch himself out. The experienced Croatian in the other corner read it, waited, and closed the show in round nine. Itauma was stretchered out of the ring having emptied the tank entirely. It was his first taste of defeat in a career that had been hyped to the moon.

Khan Sees Himself in It

Amir Khan knows the feeling. Speaking to Boxing King Media, he drew the obvious parallel to his own 2008 collapse against Breidis Prescott — a result that had the press writing his obituary. Khan said the media and social media tore him apart and declared him finished. He came back and won a world title anyway, and he reckons Itauma can do the same.

Khan was blunt about the mental side. He said the demons will be there when Itauma walks back out, and the only way through is straight back in — no long layoff, no stewing on the sidelines. That's exactly what he did: back to the gym immediately, then a hard reset with Freddie Roach in America, away from friends, family and the noise.

The Rebuild

One thing won't change, though. Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed Itauma stays with trainer Ben Davison for the return, rather than following Khan's blueprint of a clean break. The plan is to rebuild momentum and reestablish Itauma as one of British boxing's genuine blue-chip talents.

The upside is still obvious. A 14-0 record, 12 stoppages, and he's still only 21 — younger than most prospects are when they turn over. One bad night doesn't erase that, but it does recalibrate the conversation. Itauma was being sold as the next big thing before a punch was thrown in that fight. Now he gets to find out who he actually is in the ring. January's the first answer.