Filip Hrgovic ripped up the script and shattered Moses Itauma’s world-title dream as the Briton appeared to punch himself out in an extraordinary heavyweight contest at London’s O2 Arena. The clash for the vacant IBF title—which had been recently vacated by Oleksandr Usyk—ended in the ninth round when trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel at the same time referee Howard Foster stopped the action as Itauma slumped into his corner exhausted.
Filip Hrgovic Stops Moses Itauma in Ninth Round of IBF Title Clash
The defeat is the first of the 21-year-old Briton’s professional career, ending a 14-0 run that included 12 stoppages. Entering the ring, Itauma had boxed just 26 professional rounds before his first world-title opportunity. A victory would have made the Chatham fighter the second-youngest world champion in heavyweight history behind Mike Tyson. Instead, Hrgovic became Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion.
Early Dominance Gives Way to Endurance Struggle
The bout began with a fiery atmosphere after a build-up featuring verbal sparring and an incident where Itauma shoved Hrgovic and the Zagreb man slapped him back. Coming out with real intent from his southpaw stance, Itauma landed straight lefts and kept a pace the 34-year-old Croatian struggled to match early on. Early in the second round, a right hook knocked Hrgovic off-balance and his glove touched the canvas. Celebrity spectators including Oasis star Noel Gallagher and boxing legend Prince Naseem Hamed watched as the crowd reacted to almost every punch.
Despite scoring the knockdown and controlling the early action, Itauma was already breathing heavily by the end of the third round. Questions had previously surrounded Itauma’s unproven chin and endurance over a long distance. Although Itauma passed initial durability tests by taking heavy shots and firing back, his relentless output began to catch up with him as the fight progressed past the halfway mark.
Hrgovic Weathering the Storm and Ninth-Round Finish
Hrgovic utilized his renowned durability, walking through heavy right hands in the sixth and seventh rounds and absorbing a flurry in the eighth that backed him onto the ropes. "From the first round, I saw his gassing out," Hrgovic said. "He started fast. I knew he was going to gas out. I knew when my chance came I needed to push. That is what I did."
In the ninth round, Hrgovic came out with renewed purpose and landed a thudding right that sent Itauma staggering backwards, almost through the ropes. With his legs gone and barely able to defend himself, Itauma was stretchered off to receive medical attention following the stoppage. Promoter Frank Warren suggested Itauma was carrying a leg injury in the final round while praising his effort. Hrgovic praised his opponent afterward, calling him "an amazing fighter" and adding, "I am the present. He is definitely the future."
