Chisora Wants Itauma vs Riakporhe for British Title Comeback

Moses Itauma tasted defeat for the first time as a professional last Saturday, dropping a ninth-round stoppage to Filip Hrgovic despite banking nearly every round on the O2 Arena scorecards. The 21-year-old was 14-0 with 12 knockouts going in, unbeaten across amateur and pro ranks, and chasing the record as youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson. Instead, Hrgovic's chin held, Itauma's tank emptied, and a genuine upset landed.

Now Derek Chisora has a plan for the rebuild. Speaking to Seconds Out, the veteran wants Itauma back in the ring as soon as December — and not against a soft touch. His pick: British heavyweight champion Richard Riakporhe, in Manchester, with the British title on the line. Not Hrgovic-level, Chisora conceded, but a real test.

Why Riakporhe Makes Sense

Riakporhe isn't a name to trifle with. Since falling short in his cruiserweight world title challenge against Chris Billam-Smith in 2024, 'The Midnight Train' has moved up to heavyweight and rattled off three straight stoppages. The most eye-catching came in April: a fifth-round knockout of Jeamie TKV that bagged him the British belt and pushed his ledger to 16 KOs from 20 wins.

The 36-year-old was ringside for Hrgovic's coronation, and he left with a clear read on the loser. Riakporhe flagged Itauma's gas tank as the glaring weakness — the exact problem that surfaced against Hrgovic, who soaked up the youngster's best work and then outlasted him. That confidence suggests Riakporhe would take the fight without blinking.

What Happens Next at the Top

Hrgovic, meanwhile, walks away with the vacant IBF strap and a likely mandatory waiting. Frank Sanchez, 26-1 with 19 KOs and coming off a second-round knockout of Richard Torrez, stepped aside to let the 34-year-old win the belt in the first place. He's now first in line to collect what he was owed.

For Itauma, the math is simple and a little brutal. He's still only 21, still a top-six heavyweight, and still a puncher with a 12-from-14 finish rate. But the loss exposed a stamina question that won't answer itself. Chisora's proposal forces the issue immediately — win a British title against a proven knockout artist, or find out the hard way that the tank problem is real.