Hrgovic stuns rising star Itauma with ninth-round stoppage to claim IBF heavyweight title

The much-anticipated world title bid of 21-year-old British boxer Moses Itauma ended in defeat on Saturday night, as experienced 34-year-old Croatian Filip Hrgovic stopped him in the ninth round at London's O2 Arena, according to the BBC.

How the fight unfolded

Itauma, unbeaten in all 14 of his professional bouts coming in, dropped Hrgovic in the second round and controlled much of the fight with faster, sharper punching. However, the BBC reported that by the end of the third round the young Briton was already breathing heavily, having chased a knockout with relentless output rather than boxing more conservatively to protect his lead.

Hrgovic weathered the pressure and stepped up the pace in the ninth round, landing a heavy right hand that sent Itauma staggering, nearly through the ropes. Itauma stayed on his feet but was visibly exhausted and unable to defend himself, prompting his corner to throw in the towel; referee Howard Foster then stopped the contest. Itauma required medical attention afterwards and left the arena on a stretcher.

"He is the best I have been in the ring with, but he needs more experience," Hrgovic said after the win, adding that he had noticed Itauma tiring from the first round and waited for his moment to attack.

Background

The victory was only the second professional loss of Hrgovic's career, following a defeat to Daniel Dubois in 2024, and made him Croatia's first heavyweight world champion. Frank Sanchez has been mentioned as a possible next challenger, while a future unification bout against WBO champion Daniel Dubois — who faces Fabio Wardley again in October — has also been floated.

Ahead of the fight, the Guardian reported that Itauma, born in Slovakia and raised in Chatham, Kent, had frequently been compared to a young Mike Tyson and stood to become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history. Itauma himself acknowledged the risks of fame before the bout: "I want to start off like Mike Tyson started, but not end up how Mike Tyson ended." According to the BBC, Itauma's promoter Frank Warren suggested the young fighter may have been carrying a leg injury in the final round and said he expects him to return stronger.

The bout followed a heated build-up marked by shoving and verbal exchanges between the two fighters, with the crowd firmly behind Itauma.