"I Knew My Guy Would Break Him": Abel Sanchez Comments on Filip Hrgovic's Victory

Pulse Sports Team 09:06 - 01 September 2026

Coach Abel Sanchez anticipated Filip Hrgovic would take control of the fight in the later rounds.

Filip Hrgovic's head coach, Abel Sanchez, shared his post-fight reaction after Hrgovic's late-round comeback and stoppage of Moses Itauma in their weekend heavyweight title bout. Sanchez stated that the fight largely unfolded as they expected, knowing that Itauma's lack of elite-level experience would hinder him in crucial moments. Here are some of his comments on the fight.

"It was fun to watch what we had predicted in the gym, in training camp, what we had planned, unfold. What wasn't fun was seeing how fast Moses Itauma's hands were and how accurate he was with his punches early on, so we couldn't really respond. But it was fun to watch because I knew my guy would eventually wear him down with pressure and his sheer presence."

Was he ever seriously concerned for Hrgovic?

"No, not at all. Moses isn't a puncher of the caliber his previous 14 fights might suggest. Moses is a fast, sharp boxer who has fought many guys who didn't belong in the ring with him, but that's how fighters develop. This time, I think they made a mistake facing Hrgovic. But Moses could beat most of the guys in the top 10 or below Filip, just not this one, because of his previous fights and performances. I was more worried about him getting cuts from those good shots than actually being hurt."

When did he feel the tide of the fight turning?

"I think around the sixth or seventh round, I told him: 'Okay, I see what you're doing, let him tire out a bit, and then we'll press him, but I just want you to be a little more active.' I think it was in the sixth. And in the seventh, I told him: 'Okay, you know we're not going to win on points here, so let's start pressing him a bit more, land a few more punches.' That's when I saw Moses's legs start to 'dance' slightly, and that's when I thought it was time to push him."

Could Itauma have done anything differently to change his fate?

"He started too fast. That's the amateur in him. But if he hadn't started so fast, and just boxed... But because of the 12 knockouts in 14 fights, in his mind, he wants to knock someone out... He's immature in his approach to an important fight like this."