Filip Hrgovic secured a dramatic victory in London, shattering Moses Itauma’s world-title aspirations by stopping the 21-year-old in the ninth round. The win adds to Hrgovic’s impressive record, marking his 15th stoppage in 20 professional victories. The bout, which featured the vacant IBF title, saw Itauma enter as a heavy favorite after dominating his first 14 professional opponents, leading many to label him as heavyweight boxing’s next superstar.
Itauma initially controlled the tempo of the contest, even scoring a knockdown in the second round. However, his high-output strategy eventually proved costly as he began to fade. Hrgovic, an Olympic bronze medallist whose only prior professional loss was to Daniel Dubois, remained composed under pressure. As the fight progressed, Itauma’s lack of experience became apparent; he struggled to maintain his footing, swaying in the corner until his team signaled the end by throwing in the towel during the ninth round.
Following the stoppage, Itauma required immediate medical attention and was removed from the arena on a stretcher. Had he won, the young fighter would have become the second-youngest world champion in the history of the heavyweight division.
Reflecting on the match, Hrgovic praised his opponent’s talent while noting the tactical shift that secured the win. “He is the best I have been in the ring with, but he needs more experience,” Hrgovic said. “I knew I was losing the round, but I knew that I had the pace in my favour. He needs more experience, but he is one of a kind.” Hrgovic added that he had anticipated the Briton’s fatigue, stating, “From the first round, I saw his gassing out. 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.” The report also notes that filip Hrgovic has picked up 15 of his 20 wins by stoppage.
