Ego Shattered: Price on Itauma's

A Shock That Brewed

The atmosphere in London was electric. The hype was real. Moses Itauma, the generational talent destined to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history, was finally getting his shot at the world title. But Filip Hrgović, the tough, seasoned, and criminally underrated Croatian, had other plans. In a dramatic turn of events, Hrgović weathered an early storm to stop Itauma in the ninth round, a result that sent shockwaves through the sport. Former heavyweight contender David Price, speaking to Boxing News, described the night perfectly. “Dramatic is the word, isn't it? It was a shock, but you kind of seen it becoming more of a possibility the longer the fight went on.” Unlike a flash knockout, this was a slow burn; an upset that simmered for five rounds before boiling over. As Price noted, most insiders knew of Hrgović’s quality, but the manner of Itauma’s collapse was what truly stunned everyone.

‘A Victim of His Own Success’

So, where did it all go wrong for the phenom? According to David Price, Itauma’s greatest strengths became his undoing. “He was kind of a victim of his own success earlier on because he was landing that cleanly and freely,” Price explained. “When you're that good and that sharp... it is hard not to get greedy.” Itauma’s speed, accuracy, and power were on full display in the opening rounds, but Hrgović’s granite chin refused to crack. That durability, Price believes, broke Itauma’s heart. “He didn't know what it was like to land his best shots… but his opponent's still in front of him.” This created a vicious cycle: Itauma, doubting his ability to go the distance, began hunting the knockout with even more urgency, burning through his energy reserves at an alarming rate. Hrgović’s post-fight comment that Itauma “approached the fight like an amateur” may have been harsh, but Price sees the truth in it. It’s an intoxicating, “addictive” feeling to land at will, and without the experience of being extended, Itauma simply couldn’t stop himself.

The Perils of an Empty Tank

The fight became a classic tale of the sprinter versus the marathon runner. Itauma, a “fast-twitch” fighter, expended immense energy with every explosive shot. Hrgović, more of a “diesel engine,” just kept his shape, stayed consistent, and waited for the storm to pass. “We're talking so much about what had went wrong for Moses,” Price pointed out, “but we haven't spoke that much about how good Filip Hrgović was.” The Croatian took heavy body shots, moved his feet well, and never lost his composure. Once Itauma’s accuracy faded and he began “hitting fresh air,” the end was near. “That was when the tank emptied and there was no coming back,” Price said. The final images of the fight—Itauma exhausted, swinging on pure instinct before being stopped and later stretchered from the ring—were a brutal lesson in the importance of pacing and experience, something that can only be learned in the deep waters Itauma had, until now, so successfully avoided.

The Hard Road Back to the Top

For a fighter who had never known defeat, this loss is more than just a blemish on his record; it’s a psychological blow. “That's so damaging to the ego,” Price warns. “Getting stretched out of a ring with exhaustion, with all due respect, it's not a good look.” The dream of becoming the youngest-ever heavyweight champion is gone. Now, the focus must shift. Price’s advice is clear: “Forget about world titles for now… let's just build a career.” He suggests Itauma should take fights with the explicit intention of winning on points, learning to box at 80% effort to prove to himself he can handle the championship distance. Drawing parallels with David Haye and Nigel Benn, Price believes Itauma must undergo a “big mindset shift.” The path back will be a project, one that requires humility and a willingness to learn the lessons that only a devastating defeat can teach. The talent is undeniable, but Saturday night proved that in the heavyweight division, talent alone is never enough.