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Filip Hrgovic claimed the vacant IBF heavyweight title in a stunning upset at London’s O2 Arena, stopping undefeated British prospect Moses Itauma in the ninth round. The 21-year-old Itauma dominated the early rounds and scored a knockdown in the second, but his aggressive pace proved unsustainable as fatigue set in during the middle rounds. Hrgovic, an Olympic bronze medallist from Croatia, weathered Itauma’s relentless assault and capitalized on the younger fighter’s declining energy, forcing a stoppage when Itauma’s corner threw in the towel as their charge slumped exhausted in his corner.
Itauma had entered as a heavy favorite to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history following a perfect 14-0 record. However, his limited professional experience—just 26 rounds prior to this title shot—exposed critical weaknesses. The Briton pursued knockout opportunities rather than boxing intelligently, draining his reserves while Hrgovic absorbed punishment and waited for his opening. Medical personnel escorted Itauma from the arena on a stretcher following the defeat.
Hrgovic acknowledged being outboxed for much of the contest but noted his superior pace advantages. The Croatian’s previous professional loss came against Daniel Dubois, who currently holds the WBO heavyweight title and is scheduled to face Fabio Wardley in October. Promoter Frank Warren suggested Itauma may have suffered a leg injury late in the fight but expressed confidence the young heavyweight would return stronger. Despite the setback, observers noted Itauma retains considerable potential given his age and experience deficit compared to other heavyweight champions at similar career stages.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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