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Hrgovic wants Moses Itauma to fight, says coach Abel Sanchez

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Image: Eddie Hearn's Take on Who Moses Itauma Should Fight Next: Hrgovic or Parker?

Trainer Abel Sanchez says Filip Hrgovic is interested in fighting heavyweight title challenger Moses Itauma. He claims that Hrgovic (19-1, 14 KO) will be on hiatus until the end of 2025, but he is still interested in fighting the teenage 20-year-old Itauma (13-0, 11 KO).

Cut above the eye

Hrgovic suffered a deep cut above his right eye during a lopsided 10-round unanimous decision victory over David Adeleye on Aug. 16 and will need time for the injury to heal.

Too many quick KOs, too little development

Sanchez says he’s not sure Queensberry-promoted Moses Itauma is like that “goods or not” at this stage of his career. He notes that he has scored many early first-round knockouts and believes it is not good for his “development”. He says Itauma will be tested sooner or later and it would be better if he gets rounds against good heavyweights sooner.

Itauma’s last nine fights

  • KO in the first round: 6
  • KO in the second second: 3

Knocking out his opponent quickly suggests that Itauma is not being matched with the right fighters as he should have been beefed up a long time ago. Although he is 20 years elderly, he looks closer to 28. In terms of appearance, Itauma seems closer to 30 than 21. He should have already been matched with other rivals. There is no real development when he knocks out fighters so quickly.

You can only see what Itauma looked like in his last competitive fight against Stylianos Roulias. During this competition, Moses seemed stressed by the way he was taken down by aggressive pressure fighter Roulias, who showed no fear of him and was simply focused on landing as strenuous as he could when he was cornered. The way Itauma moved and held himself showed that he was uncomfortable with an opponent who was fighting for a change.

Is Moses Itauma really “good”?

“Of course, we would consider it. He is a rising star and has to take a few steps to get to the championship level. Who knows if he is suitable or not. Filip would really benefit from a fight with him. I talked to him about it and he would love to fight him,” said coach Abel Sanchez. Boxing news about Filip Hrgovic’s interest in fighting Moses Itauma.

Interestingly, Moses was selected in the same way as his older brother, Karol Itaumhowever, it was fielded only against lower-tier fighters. Like Moses, Karol scored multiple quick first-round knockouts in his first nine fights.

Lessons from the fall of Charles Itauma

When Karol Itauma stood in front of a solid journeyman, Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna, who was able to absorb his punch, was knocked out in the fifth round on January 28, 2023. It was the same identical matchmaking that had been done for Moses, and Charles looked like gold until he was thrown against a halfway decent fighter.

I’d rather he go three rounds than knock someone out in the first because of this really doesn’t say anything about his development.” Sanchez said of Itauma. “It will be tested in the future and it would be nice to see it tested along the way.”

Actual test: Frank Sanchez

The ideal opponent for Itauma to gain some experience would be Frank Sanchez, as this is a fight he could have in an IBF title eliminator to determine the mandatory for undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Itauma says Sanchez was not one of the names suggested to him. He doesn’t say why he didn’t insist on fighting him, as that would be the logical fight he would take if he wanted to improve himself further. Itauma doesn’t get much out of shooting these fighters:

  • Dillian Whyte: 37
  • Mariusz Wach: 45
  • Mike Balogun: 41
  • Dan Garber: 40

Last update: 10/10/2025

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Paulie Malignaggis Insightful Verdict on Manny Pacquiao vs Shakur Stevenson Fight

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Paulie Malignaggi's Insightful Verdict on Manny Pacquiao vs Shakur Stevenson Fight

Paulie Malignaggi has offered his reaction to a reported clash between Shakur Stevenson and Manny Pacquiaowhich could feature on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.

The all-British heavyweight showdown is expected to take place on December 11, headlining an event at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

That is, of course, if Fury and Joshua actually make it to the ring, as despite it being announced earlier this week, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger has since reported that their fight is in jeopardy.

Prior to that, it had emerged that an encounter between Stevenson and Pacquiao – between whom there is a near two-decade age gap – was being planned for the same night in Wales.

Should it come to fruition, this would represent Stevenson’s first outing since signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, who he joined after dethroning Teofimo Lopez with a unanimous decision victory in January.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, has not fought since his draw with Mario Barrios in July 2025, when he ended a near four-year layoff and almost claimed the WBC welterweight title.

Yet despite that surprisingly impressive performance, former world champion Malignaggi has emphasised on his YouTube channel that, against Stevenson, the 47-year-old would be facing an entirely different competitor.

“Manny Pacquiao-Shakur Stevenson has no place on this card; [it] has no place in big-time boxing. I am completely befuddled.

“[I’m] disappointed in Stevenson; [I’m] disappointed in Zuffa, obviously. These are ‘click bait’ type of fights. These are names that draw attention, so you can get people to watch. Then the fight’s a dud and all these casuals sit there complaining about boxing, telling you why boxing’s dead.”

Malignaggi went on to credit Pacquiao with being “competitive against the worst world champion I’ve ever seen in my life”, emphasising a considerable difference between Barrios and Stevenson.

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Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Scorecard Analysis: Key Highlights and Insights

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"Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Scorecard Analysis: Key Highlights and Insights"

World Boxing News provides a round-by-round scorecard as Johnny Fisher faces Michael Pirotton at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Fisher and Pirotton collide over ten rounds at heavyweight as Zuffa Boxing stages its latest card in the United Kingdom.

The Romford Bull returns to action with Pirotton standing in his way as the British heavyweight looks to continue his climb.

WBN provides a live scorecard of the contest below, plus live results throughout the event.


Fisher vs Pirotton Scorecard

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton

(Round-by-round scorecard will refresh every 2 mins)

Heavyweight
Copper Box Arena, London
10×3


Round Fisher Pirotton
Round 1 10 9
Round 2 10 9
Round 3 9 10
Round 4 9 10
Round 5 10 9
Round 6 10 9
Round 7 10 9
Round 8 10 9
Round 9 10 9
Round 10 10 9
WBN Totals: 98 92

Official Result: FISHER MD – 98-92, 96-95, 95-95


Zuffa Boxing

Preview

Fisher faces Pirotton in the first fight of his lucrative deal with Dana White and Zuffa Boxing.

The Briton enters the contest with a 14-1 record, while Pirotton brings a 12-2 record into the Zuffa Boxing 11 bout.

The event is available live on Sky in the United Kingdom and Paramount+.

The Fisher vs Pirotton event unfolds alongside more live coverage on World Boxing News.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

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Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Results: Latest Fight Outcome and Highlights

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Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Results: Latest Fight Outcome and Highlights

World Boxing News provides results and updates as Johnny Fisher faces Michael Pirotton on Zuffa Boxing 11 at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Fisher returns to heavyweight action over ten rounds against Pirotton as part of Zuffa Boxing’s latest event in the United Kingdom.

Craig Richards faces Radivoje Kalajdzic at light heavyweight, while Lee Cutler takes on Louis Greene and Cesar Mateo Tapia faces Leo Ruiz at middleweight.

WBN provides results and updates from every bout as they happen.


Results

All times are local BST.

23:41

Johnny Fisher defeated Michael Pirotton by majority decision after ten competitive heavyweight rounds at the Copper Box Arena. WBN scored the fight 98-92 for Fisherwhile the official judges returned scores of 98-92 and 96-95 for Fisher, with the third scoring it 95-95.

22:42

Radivoje Kalajdzic improved to 31-3 with a unanimous decision over Craig Richards, who dropped to 20-5-1 after a good ten-round scrap. Both men had their moments and hurt each other at times before “Hot Rod” got the verdict on the scorecards, which included knocking Richards down for the first time in his career.

21:43

Lee Cutler carded a unanimous decision win over Louis Greene in their ten-round middleweight clash. Judges scorecard 98-92 and 97-93 twice in favor on Cutler, who improves to 17-2.

20:52

Ahead of the three main bouts, Zuffa’s only female fighter, Kayla Allendefeated Edina Kiss via TKO in their super lightweight bout.

20:32

Leo Ruiz overcame Cesar Tapia over 10 rounds at middleweight, scoring a unanimous decision to move to 18-1 as Ruiz Tapia suffered a first loss.

19:29

Alex MacMillan moved to 5-0 with a second-round stoppage of Guillaume Azagier, who went down twice in the opening round and again before the finish at 0:32 of the second.

18:40

Rogelio Romero improved to 7-0 with a third-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Aurel Ignat, ending the cruiserweight contest at 2:12.

18:24

Alexis De la Cerda improved to 10-0 with a unanimous decision over Cain Lewis, taking the eight-round contest 80-72, 79-74 and 79-73.

17:42

Fred Pullen marked his professional debut with a four-round points victory over Leonardo Faretina, who was dropped in the second round.


Remaining Bouts

Johnny Fisher vs. Michael Pirotton — 10 rounds, heavyweight

Craig Richards vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic — 10 rounds, light heavyweight


TV Coverage

The event is available live on Sky in the United Kingdom and Paramount+.

Follow WBN’s live boxing coverage throughout the event.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

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