Boxing
How can Moses take Joshua inspiration for first loss response?
Moses Itauma has vowed to return stronger in the wake of a first professional defeat against Filip Hrgovic on Saturday night.
The Briton missed out on the chance to become IBF heavyweight champion after a stunning ninth-round collapse in London.
Having dominated the veteran Croatian for the majority of their bout, an exhausted Moses lost his shape at The O2 Arena.
Now, released from hospital and plotting his next move, the star has promised fans he will regroup and regather his form.
Hrgovic stuns Moses to become IBF champion
Watch: Croatian upsets Briton to earn heavyweight crown
It is a matter the 21-year-old will undoubtedly see to - and he could do worse than look to Anthony Joshua for further ideas.
Here, DAZN News breaks down what inspiration Moses can draw from 'AJ' as he seeks to plot a course back towards the top.
What has Moses said on his loss?
Having been whisked away for medical attention after his defeat, Moses resurfaced with a social media video late on Sunday.
In it, the star paid tribute to Hrgovic, and stressed that he intends to fight on in pursuit of another title opportunity soon enough.
"So yesterday wasn’t my night,” the star stated. “We attempted greatness and we just fell short to the more experienced man.
"I want to thank the fans in and outside the arena, you guys made it a bit more special and a bit more electrifying than I expected.
"Although I never reached my desired outcome, I believe I gained experience that I'll take to my future fights. God bless, take care and I'll be back.”
What could Moses draw from Joshua?
Moses is far from the first British talent to come unstuck - but as his forerunners show, it's the response that makes the man next.
Seven years ago, unified heavyweight champion Joshua famously fell to the unfancied Andy Ruiz, losing his titles in the process.
(Getty Images)
A rematch clause meant that Joshua was always going to get a second bite of the cherry, of course, which Moses does not have.
But it is in the way the former refocused and redisciplined himself that the younger star can pull as a source of additional belief.
Joshua dispatched Ruiz with a broad decision, outclassing the Mexican-American in nearly every round. That will be the template.
Who could Moses face next?
This will be the test for Queensberry Promotions and the rest of the star's team, with Moses clearly in need of further deep rounds.
An unknown leg injury notwithstanding, the Briton's fatigue in the closing stages basically gave Hrgovic the opening to exploit him.
There are suggestions that the knockout reputation Moses has generated means he may feel the need to uncork one every bout.
As such, it will be a case of finding an opponent who can offer him the distance - or at least proves malleable enough for him to work.
Options include Guido Vianello, Nelson Hysa and Efe Ajagba, among others. But each will also bring banana-skin risk to be mastered.
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