Former world champion George Groves has advised British boxers Moses Itauma and Conor Benn on how to rebuild following their first world title defeats.
Both fighters were earmarked as stars of the future in British boxing before suffering shattering stoppage losses in recent weeks. Heavyweight prospect Itauma crumbled in the ninth round against Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF title, while welterweight contender Benn was floored heavily and stopped in the second round by WBC champion Ryan Garcia.
Groves became a major name in British boxing during a career that required significant resilience. It took him four attempts before he won a world championship, giving him personal experience in overcoming adversity on the elite stage.
Itauma stamina and ring experience
Speaking to Sky Sports, Groves emphasized that the 21-year-old Itauma must demonstrate strong resolve to recover from his first professional loss. He explained that the intense physical exhaustion experienced in a high-stakes championship fight cannot be simulated during training sessions in the gym.
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"He's going to have to show a lot of resilience to come back from that as well as remain confident with self-belief," Groves said. "There's no way you can train to that level of exhaustion. It's not like you can go into the gym and replicate that. It's never going to be, in the gym, as important as what it is, a world title fight at his age underneath the lights with everything on the line."
Groves added that competing in a world title bout at such a young age remains a credit to Itauma. He expressed hope that the young fighter will avoid lasting mental scarring and adjust his pacing rather than overhaul his technique.
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"He's been there now and that's a credit to him," Groves said. "Now you've got to use that. It's not an easy task but I hope that there isn't a lot of mental scarring there and they can go back and not try and reinvent. Keep what he is but just give him more comfort and confidence in the pacing of the fight."
According to Groves, Itauma is an explosive, fast-twitch athlete whose maximum-effort punches rapidly drain his energy reserves. He noted that Itauma began gassing from the third round onward against Hrgovic and currently lacks endurance for longer contests.
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"Maybe it will come with age, that endurance that he can be much more of a 12 round fighter than a three-round fighter," Groves explained. "At the moment he's a three-round fighter. That's the sad fact of it. He's not even a six-round fighter. I thought he was gassing a bit from the third round on. He's that sort of athlete, extremely fast twitch and when he punches he puts maximum effort into it. But that depletes the engine. At times he's probably never really had to work on it. But he's going to have to be much more efficient in his work."
Rebuilding strategy for heavyweight prospect
Groves recommended that Itauma regroup against a less dangerous opponent in his next outing, while defending the decision to take the Hrgovic fight. He praised Itauma's management team and noted that elevating the bout to a world title contest added pressure.
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"If I had to rebuild Moses Itauma, I would drop him obviously down a level, but I've got to be honest, I think his management has been great so far," Groves said. "I'm not buying into 'the Hrgovic fight was a step too far'. It was what it was. It was the right fight to make. It got elevated to a world title."
Groves suggested that Itauma overextended himself after believing he had Hrgovic in trouble, leading to fatigue. He urged Itauma's training team to adapt his preparation while selecting a durable yet manageable opponent for his return.
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"It was logical to elevate it to a world title and with that maybe came some pressure," Groves said. "Moses, he probably thought he had Hrgovic gone and he didn't and put his foot on the gas a bit too much and he gassed out. So he's going to have to own that a little bit. They'll change and adapt within his training team to patch that up. Get him in with someone durable, someone not as durable as Hrgovic maybe."
Groves maintained that Hrgovic was the correct opponent despite the outcome, noting that the experienced heavyweight lacked speed despite his size and strength.
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"Hrgovic is good, he's been about, he's tough, but in some ways he's made for Itauma because, although he's big and strong, he's not quick," Groves said. "He had nothing in that fight. The only time he has success was when Itauma just came away from his boxing style because he was exhausted."
Highlighting the delicate task of guiding a young prodigy, Groves concluded: "The toughest job in boxing is probably navigating Itauma's career because he's been so good, so fast, so early, so young."
Conor Benn division options and trilogy
Conor Benn also faces a challenging career rebuilding path following his second-round stoppage against Ryan Garcia in their WBC welterweight title bout. Benn had previously moved up to middleweight for two 160-pound clashes with Chris Eubank Jr last year before dropping back down to 147 pounds for Garcia.
Groves questioned Benn's standing at true world-class level and advised against staying at middleweight, suggesting a move to the 154-pound super-welterweight division instead.
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"I'm not sure where he lies at true world class," Groves said. "If he's not going to stay at 147lbs, who can he beat at 154lbs and who can he beat at 160lbs? I don't think middleweight is a good move. I'd go up to 154, I know that's a tough division with loads of really good fighters who aren't necessarily the massive marquee names."
Groves noted that remaining at welterweight for another camp would place Benn in contention against elite rivals like Teofimo Lopez or Shakur Stevenson.
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"Maybe another camp at 147 could be good," Groves said. "But then you're in with Teofimo Lopez, Shakur Stevenson."
Potential Eubank Jr rivalry and future
Benn is expected to consider completing a trilogy with Eubank Jr, potentially at super-middleweight. However, Groves believes the rivalry has run its course even if it remains Benn's most lucrative option.
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"Hopefully it's not all roads lead to Eubank because I think that's done. That rivalry is done," Groves said. "I've got a feeling that's what it will be. I'm not a huge fan of that, but that's probably the best of Conor Benn's options."
Although Benn has earned substantial purses from high-profile fights, Groves does not expect the fighter to retire following his defeat to Garcia.
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"He's made crazy money, but I don't think he'll retire," Groves said. "I don't think he'd want to retire off the back of that loss and he definitely won't walk away from the table when there's still food there."
Broadcast coverage and upcoming fights
The fall-out from both world title fights was discussed on Sky Sports' Toe2Toe show, where analysts Delicious Orie, Barry Jones, and Sam Noakes reflected on Itauma's defeat to Hrgovic. Jones also offered analysis on Benn's stoppage loss to Garcia.
Sky Sports will broadcast live boxing on Saturday, September 26, featuring heavyweight Johnny Fisher against Michael Pirotton. Ahead of the contest, Pirotton pledged to cause an upset, stating: "I know his mind is broke."
The analysis was compiled by sports journalist John Dennen for publication on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Viewers can watch Sky Sports coverage through television subscriptions, contract-free streaming on NOW, or via the downloadable Sky Sports app.
