LONDON — Moses Itauma’s quest to make history as the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in boxing history came to a dramatic halt on Saturday night, as Croatian contender Filip Hrgović scored a ninth-round stoppage to capture the vacant IBF heavyweight world title at The O2 Arena.
The 21-year-old British southpaw (now 14-1, 12 KOs) appeared on the brink of glory early in the contest, dropping Hrgović in the second round and dominating the opening six rounds with speed, sharp combinations, and heavy hands. However, as the fight entered uncharted territory for Itauma—who had never previously boxed beyond six rounds—fatigue set in, allowing Hrgović (21-1, 16 KOs) to pull off a dramatic late turnaround.
Early Dominance and the Turning Point
From the opening bell, Itauma pressed the pace with signature confidence. A short, explosive right hook staggered Hrgović in round two, forcing the Croatian’s glove to touch the canvas for an official knockdown. Controlling range and pace, Itauma built a comfortable lead on all three judges’ scorecards through the first half of the fight.
However, Hrgović absorbed the early damage and systematically dragged the young prospect into deep waters. By round seven, Itauma was visibly gassing, struggling to maintain his output against an experienced opponent who kept applying forward pressure.
In the ninth round, an exhausted Itauma backed onto the ropes under sustained heavy fire. As Hrgović launched a decisive barrage, referee Howard Foster stepped in to halt the bout at 2:27 after Itauma’s head trainer, Ben Davison, threw in the towel to protect his fighter.
Post-Fight Medical Precaution & Social Media Message
Itauma was stretchered out of the arena as a precaution and transported to a nearby London hospital, skipping post-fight media duties. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed that Itauma suffered a minor leg injury during the bout but received a full medical clearance and was released home the following morning.
Breaking his silence online, Itauma offered a gracious statement to his supporters:
“Yesterday wasn’t my night. We attempted greatness and we just fell short to the more experienced man. I want to say congratulations to Filip Hrgović on his win, and although I never reached my desired outcome, I believe I gained experience that I will take into my future fights.”
Encouragement poured in from across the boxing world, including former unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who posted: “Moses, this is not the end. Come back stronger and keep moving forward!”
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
While Itauma immediately called for a rematch, promoter Frank Warren has advised taking a measured approach, recommending one or two rebuilding fights to gain valuable 10- and 12-round experience before stepping back into world title contention.
For Hrgović, the victory marks a career pinnacle, making him the first heavyweight world champion in Croatian boxing history. The newly crowned IBF champion is expected to defend his title next against mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez.
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