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

In a three-fighter poll on DAZN, fans have voted for Joseph Parker to be the next opponent for Moses Itauma after his first-round knockout win over Dillian Whyte in a heavyweight contest in Riyadh.

The DAZN Fan Poll Results

Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) was picked ahead of second-place Oleksandr Usyk and Filip Hrgovic. It’s a good choice for Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) because it’s the one that makes the most sense if he wants to return to the ring soon.

• Parker: 38%
• Usyk: 26%
• Hrgovic: 24%

Usyk is reportedly injured, and Hrgovic suffered a cut in his grueling 10-round unanimous decision win over David Adeleye on Saturday’s card at the ANB Arena in Riyadh.

Parker’s World Title Situation

The only problem is that Parker is already in line for a world title shot against Usyk. For him to put that big payday at risk going up against Itauma, he would likely want similar money. Would Turki Alalshikh be willing to finance a fight between Parker and Itauma? It would come down to money.

“That’s a good fight. Just someone that’s active and someone that’s really in the groove of fighting. Hrgovic,” said Eddie Hearn to Boxing News about who Moses Itauma should fight next after his first-round knockout win over Dillian Whyte.

Queensberry might be hesitant to put Itauma in with a tough opponent like Filip Hrgovic after watching him in action against Adeleye. He’s not someone who would fold like Whyte without putting hands on Itauma.

Can Itauma Take a Shot?

We saw how Moses went whole rabbit the last time he fought a decent opponent three years ago in the amateurs. The 6’6″ Hrgovic would force Itauma to take shots, and he might get exposed as a fighter that can dish out the punishment but can’t take it.

“Joe Parker is obviously looking for those shots at a world title, but that’s a brilliant fight. Moses is a brilliant fighter. He’s a world-class fighter who will go on to win a world heavyweight championship,” said Hearn. “I think now, they [Queensberry] need to give him [Itauma] that can stand up to the shots and take him a little bit into the deep waters.

“For me, still give him two or three fights before that, but he’s very special.