Moses Itauma Claims Critics Were Happy He Lost

Google NewsPreferred Source By Boxing News 24 Desk - 10/17/2026 - CommentsMoses Itauma sounds bitter about the criticism following his defeat to Filip Hrgovic, claiming some people were happy to see him lose. His disappointment is clear, but his response leaves unanswered whether those critics identified weaknesses he needs to correct.The young heavyweight repeatedly insists he doesnt care about outside opinions. Yet his comments suggest the reaction has stayed with him, particularly when it came from people he previously supported.Ive seen personalities change and Ive seen a couple people be happy that I lost, Itauma told The Stomping Ground. Im like, Wow. I was like, Man, Ive cheered you on.Itauma doesnt name those people or explain what they said. That makes it difficult to judge whether they celebrated his defeat or offered criticism he didnt want to hear. Those are different things, and his account provides little detail to support the harsher interpretation.Being supportive of another fighter also doesnt require that person to approve of your performance or your corners decisions. Someone can want Itauma to succeed while believing his preparation or tactics need work. Asked about criticism of Ben Davison and his training team, Itauma emphasized their healthy relationship. That explains his loyalty, but a good relationship doesnt answer questions about what happened during the fight.To his credit, Itauma acknowledged his responsibility. Ultimately I lost the fight and I take full responsibility for that.He also credited Hrgovics experience and admitted the defeat was difficult to accept. There is recognition that he encountered something his previous fights and sparring hadnt prepared him for.The concern is how quickly the conversation about his team becomes a discussion about other peoples personalities. If criticism gets interpreted as pleasure at his failure, potentially valuable observations become easier to dismiss. Itauma doesnt have to agree with every pundit. But his return will depend on correcting what went wrong against Hrgovic. Whether the people pointing it out cheered for him beforehand has little bearing on whether their points were right.Itauma seems to be taking the criticism personally. Rather than discussing what the critics got right or wrong, hes talking about people being happy he lost. That gives him a reason to brush aside points that might help him.He may feel let down by people hes cheered for, but that doesnt make their criticism wrong. They can support him and still think his conditioning, defense, or preparation wasnt good enough.Calling them haters wont fix any of that. If he dismisses good advice because he doesnt like hearing it, the next good heavyweight he faces could punish the same flaws.Share this articleCopy linkEmailfFacebookTwitter About the authorBoxing News 24 DeskBoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy.WebsiteXFacebookInstagram