Filip Hrgović stuns the world, stopping Moses Itauma in nine rounds to become the IBF heavyweight champion
The upset of the year happened in Greenwich, London, denying the young emerging superstar southpaw the chance to be the second-youngest heavyweight champ of all time behind Mike Tyson.
Filip Hrgović (21-1, 15 KOs) made the 21 year-old Moses Itauma leave on a stretcher. He’s now the first Croatian heavyweight champ (IBF), and he had lost the first eight rounds, taking heavy artillery to the head and body. He then pounced on his young opponent in the ninth, leaving the overwhelming majority of spectators inside The O2 Arena stunned.
He had said that he’d send the younger man back to high school, and on Friday at the last face off, tensions boiled when Itauma pushed Hrgović in the back, causing him to drop off the stage. Hrgović turned around, stepped to him and slapped him with a swift right that further set the stage for Saturday.
Itauma had even dropped him with a check right hook in the second round and nearly decapitated him with an uppercut later in the bout. Additionally, Hrgović’s trainer, Abel Sanchez, had instructed him that he needed to land one good shot earlier in the clash when nothing was going right for him. But Hrgović sensed him slowing down after the first, and went for it when Itauma looked like he downed 15 shots of Don Julio as he stumbled through the ring.
Referee Howard Foster stopped the fight as Hrgović landed a piercing right to the body and a left hook upstairs as Itauma was gasping for air, using the ropes to stand.
Hrgović had suffered one previous loss — a stoppage in June 2024 against Daniel Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) as both sides of his face were badly cut up — but has now won four in a row and wants a unification next, which would mean step-aside money for Frank Sánchez (26-1, 19 KOs). Hrgović also said he wants another go at Dubois, the WBO champ who left humiliated and thinking about quitting boxing, if he defeats Fabio Warley in his rematch. He mentioned the undefeated Agit Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) as well.
He also gave props to Itauma (14-1) in his post-fight interview, calling him the best fighter he’s faced, but that his gas stank plus experience weren’t enough, as he had never been past six rounds. He didn’t fail to give credit to wife, Marinela, for her support, and dedicated the win to his daughter and the memory of his father, who died four years ago.
“It was not me tonight, it was Jesus Christ in me,” the champion said.
Queensberry Promotions founder, Frank Warren, claimed Itauma has a leg injury, and said the young contender needs to go back to the drawing board. He also said he would do his best to deliver a fight for Hrgović in Croatia.
Dubois stuck around for an interview with the DAZN broadcast. He said he would “100 percent” fight Hrgović again.
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