Breaking: Hrgovic makes history, stops Itauma to capture IBF heavyweight title

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Filip Hrgovic has ended Moses Itauma’s bid to become one of Britain’s youngest-ever world champions after producing a dramatic ninth-round stoppage to claim the vacant IBF heavyweight title in London.

The Croatian survived a gruelling encounter in which both fighters appeared to be running on empty before Itauma’s corner finally threw in the towel after their 21-year-old charge was left struggling to remain upright.

Itauma entered the contest as one of heavyweight boxing’s most highly rated young prospects, with the opportunity to make history by becoming Britain’s second-youngest world champion.

Instead, he was forced to endure the toughest test of his professional career as Hrgovic’s experience, durability and relentless pressure eventually turned the fight in the Croatian’s favour.

Itauma appeared to be gaining momentum through the middle rounds, landing clean combinations and forcing Hrgovic to absorb significant punishment. By the eighth round, the Croatian was visibly slowing, while Itauma sensed an opportunity and unleashed a sustained attack.

But the Briton’s aggressive assault came at a cost.

Itauma appeared to exhaust himself while trying to finish Hrgovic, and the momentum dramatically shifted in the ninth round. Hrgovic capitalised as Itauma struggled to recover, eventually leaving the young fighter badly fatigued and unable to defend himself effectively.

With Itauma unable to stay on his feet, his corner intervened and the towel was thrown in, bringing a brutal end to the contest.

The victory makes Hrgovic the first world heavyweight champion from Croatia and represents the biggest achievement of his career.

BBC Radio 5 Live boxing expert Steve Bunce described the closing stages as brutal, noting that Itauma’s trainer Ben Davison had appeared close to stopping the contest earlier because of the fighter’s condition.

Itauma was subsequently surrounded by medical personnel in his corner, having given everything in an exhausting battle that had swung repeatedly between the two heavyweights.

The defeat represents the first major setback of Itauma’s professional career and ends his immediate world-title ambitions. However, his performance against an experienced contender such as Hrgovic demonstrated the extraordinary potential that had made him one of heavyweight boxing’s most talked-about prospects.

Hrgovic, meanwhile, leaves London with the IBF belt and a landmark victory that transforms his standing in the heavyweight division.