Ex-champ tells Itauma to face Miller in comeback fight

Former world champion Tony Bellew has urged Moses Itauma to face Jarrell Miller in his comeback fight, saying the American can give the young heavyweight the rounds he needs.

Bellew said Miller poses little danger but is durable enough to take Itauma into the later rounds. He made the comments on Fight Your Corner.

“Do you know what would be a good comeback fight for Moses? Jarrell Miller. The worst thing you can do is throw that kid in, and it is over in a round,” Bellew said.

“The boy needs rounds, and the best way to get him rounds is against Jarrell Miller. Jarrell Miller is not a puncher; he has never been a puncher. He is the heaviest punchbag I have ever seen in my life.”

Itauma suffered the first defeat of his career on August 29, when Filip Hrgovic stopped him in the ninth round to win the vacant IBF world title. The Briton dominated the early rounds and scored a knockdown, but tired badly before the stoppage.

The 21-year-old now has a record of 14-1 with 12 knockouts.

Before the Hrgovic fight, his handlers had struggled to find a mid-tier opponent who could last beyond two rounds. They eventually settled on Jermaine Franklin, who showed some durability before he was stopped in the fifth round in March.

Itauma is expected to return in January, and his promoter, Frank Warren, has said the opponent will be announced within a couple of weeks. Warren is targeting at least three fights for him in 2027.

Miller is ranked number one by the WBA behind full champion Murat Gassiev. He is coming off a unanimous decision win over Lenier Pero in April, and he has previously lost to Daniel Dubois and drawn with Andy Ruiz Jr.

Hrgovic has said he will grant Itauma a rematch only after he becomes the undisputed heavyweight champion.