Filip Hrgovic Claims Vacant IBF Heavyweight Title With Ninth-Round Stoppage of Moses Itauma

Filip Hrgovic won the vacant International Boxing Federation heavyweight championship on Saturday night at the O2 Arena, stopping Moses Itauma in the ninth round after the challenger’s corner threw in the towel. The referee officially ended the contest during the ninth round as Itauma showed extreme exhaustion, giving the 34-year-old Croatian his 21st professional victory and his 16th win by stoppage.

The 21-year-old Itauma, who represents Chatham, suffered the first loss of his 15-fight professional career. He had been installed as a heavy favourite by bookmakers prior to the bout, despite having never fought beyond six rounds professionally or sparred a full 12 rounds during his training camp. Early in the match, Itauma established control using superior hand speed, repeatedly landing clean left hands on Hrgovic and forcing the Zagreb native to fight on the defensive.

As the contest wore on, Itauma’s pace slowed significantly. In the eighth round, Itauma unleashed a heavy volume of punches in an attempt to secure an early finish, but Hrgovic absorbed the offensive output. By the ninth round, Itauma’s movement diminished as severe physical fatigue set in.

Following the fight, Hrgovic explained his strategy of enduring Itauma’s early onslaught. “He was throwing too much. He was fighting like an amateur,” Hrgovic said. “I knew I needed to endure it. I need to stay there. He will get tired and I’ll get him in the later rounds.”

After the fight was halted, medical personnel attended to Itauma in the ring. He was placed on a stretcher and taken to a hospital. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed the hospitalization was precautionary, stating that the boxer suffered a leg injury and experienced extreme exhaustion following the high-paced bout. Warren also noted that Itauma fought with a mindset that he could only win the title via a knockout.

Pre-fight events were marked by friction between the two competitors. Hrgovic repeatedly dismissed Itauma during fight week as “just a kid,” which culminated in a confrontation at the weigh-in where Itauma shoved Hrgovic and Hrgovic responded with a slap.

Following his victory, Hrgovic advised Itauma to adjust his approach for future championship bouts. “Don’t give up. Don’t lose confidence,” Hrgovic said, adding, “It’s a 12-round fight, you need to pace yourself.” Warren maintained that Itauma remains an exceptional talent who can rebuild his career following the defeat.

Background

The International Boxing Federation heavyweight title became vacant prior to Saturday’s bout at the O2 Arena in London. Before this contest, Filip Hrgovic’s only career defeat came against Daniel Dubois, a match stopped due to cuts while Hrgovic was leading on two of the three judges’ scorecards. Hrgovic had previously competed in major bouts, including a 12-round victory over Zhilei Zhang, and earned an Olympic bronze medal earlier in his career. His victory over Itauma makes him the first heavyweight world champion from Croatia.

Moses Itauma had compiled an undefeated record of 14 wins prior to Saturday. Known for his rapid ascension through the ranks from his teenage years, Itauma had consistently stopped opponents in early rounds, leaving him with limited experience in extended-distance fights prior to his first world-title opportunity.