Moses Itauma’s loss against Filip Hrgovic revealed a clear development problem. He showed the speed to control the early action, yet he had never learned to pace himself under elite heavyweight pressure. David Haye points directly to that pacing problem as the young contender plans his comeback.

Haye wants Itauma to analyze his own energy output before pointing fingers. The former two-weight world champion sees a situation similar to his 2004 defeat to Carl Thompson, where early aggression led to late exhaustion.

“The first five rounds he was amazing,” Haye noted on talkBOXING. “Even in those first five rounds, did he need to throw as many shots as he did to win the rounds comfortably? When I lost to Carl Thompson, I didn’t think I need a new coach. That was the last thing. It was like, ‘coach said this, I did that. I got my a kicked.’”

Haye rebounded from that early loss to collect cruiserweight belts before winning a heavyweight title, proving that an early defeat can sharpen an elite talent. The parallel highlights an uncomfortable reality for Itauma. Early knockouts generated a lot of hype, yet those quick finishes never forced him to survive against tough situations.

However, Haye’s situation after his loss to Thompson was entirely different than Itauma’s.  Haye made that low-output style work because the terrain allowed it. At cruiserweight, Jean-Marc Mormeck was tailored for him, and Enzo Maccarinelli folded early. When Haye moved to heavyweight, Nikolai Valuev was a slow, static target who threw almost nothing back.

Haye spent twelve rounds running laps, threw about twenty punches a round, landed one late hook that rocked the giant, and walked away with a belt. The moment he ran into Wladimir Klitschko, a disciplined fighter with a real jab who refused to walk into traps, Haye spent twelve rounds on the back foot landing single-digit punches and complaining about a broken toe.

That blueprint does not translate to the current heavyweight division. Today’s landscape is loaded with massive, six-foot-six punchers who impose physical pressure. Itauma cannot jog around the ring against guys like Zhilei Zhang, Agit Kabayel, Hrgovic, or Joseph Parker, throw twelve punches a round, and expect to survive or get the decision.

A heavy, explosive heavyweight cannot rely on smoke and mirrors. When heavy muscularity clashes with a high-tempo pressure fighter, the tax gets paid quickly.

Haye correctly holds the fighter responsible, yet Ben Davison’s corner also deserves a look. If his fighter expended excessive energy while controlling the action, the corner needed to pull back the throttle. Both trainer and pupil need a shared view of those tactical lapses, whether their partnership continues or not.

Recent sightings at Floyd Mayweather’s gym alongside Shakur Stevenson and Zaquin Moses have sparked speculation. Neither camp has confirmed a split from Davison, meaning the Las Vegas trip might just be a temporary training stint.

Frank Warren floated a four-fight slate for 2027. Stacking up appearances only helps if matchmaking forces Itauma out of his comfort zone.

Blowing away overmatched foes could rebuild bruised confidence, but soft touches will leave basic developmental flaws unresolved.