Filip Hrgovic lauded Moses Itauma after the surprising ninth‑round stoppage, but he also observed that the young Brit fought "like an amateur" throughout the bout. The 34‑year‑old Croatian, who captured the vacant IBF heavyweight crown at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night, became the first world heavyweight champion from Croatia. Itauma, only 21 and unbeaten before stepping into the ring, showed flashes of brilliance in the opening half of the fight.
He landed a series of precise punches that kept Hrgovic on the back foot for the first six rounds, establishing a rhythm that suggested a potential upset. Yet as the contest wore on, the young challenger’s stamina began to falter. He struggled to penetrate Hrgovic’s famously resilient chin, and the ninth round marked the first time in his career that he had been taken beyond six rounds without a clear advantage. In the ninth, Hrgovic seized the moment, unleashing a flurry that forced the British camp to throw in the towel.
After the victory, the Croatian champion praised Itauma as the most gifted heavyweight in the division, but he could not hide his disappointment with the youngster’s ringcraft, which reminded him of an amateur’s approach. "To be honest, he’s amazing. I didn’t expect it to be this tough; I thought I could handle him more easily," Hrgovic said.
"I was losing all the rounds. The kid is amazing, he’s so quick; you never see his punches coming. He doesn’t hit hard, but his speed is exceptional.
From the first round I could see he was gasping, boxing still like an amateur. He’s inexperienced, and I realized his only weakness was his endurance.
My strategy was to stay in there, tire him out, keep coming forward and maybe stop him later. That’s exactly what I did." He added, "I came to London, his hometown, against the most talented guy in the division and I beat all the odds.
I want to be recognized as the best heavyweight in the world – this is my time. I am the present; he is the future. I aim for unification fights against the likes of Caroline Dubois or Agit Kabayel. That’s my goal." Itauma entered the contest with a reputation as one of the sport’s brightest young prospects, having earned early knockout victories that generated considerable hype.
However, the fight exposed a critical area for development: pacing. When faced with a durable opponent capable of absorbing punishment, Itauma’s early aggression left him depleted by the midpoint of the bout. To succeed at the elite level, he will need to learn how to conserve energy, manage his output, and adapt his style as rounds accumulate. After the stoppage, Itauma was carried out on a stretcher and taken to a hospital as a precaution.
A statement from Queensberry Promotions on Sunday morning confirmed that he had been released and was back home with his family. "Moses is well.
He left the hospital last night and is back at home with his family," the spokesperson said. Promoter Frank Warren emphasized the priority of the boxer’s health, noting, "That’s what we always do – the boxer’s wellbeing comes first. He’s in the best place now.
We’ll get a full medical report and keep everyone informed. He also injured his leg and was clearly exhausted.
It was a high‑tempo, fast‑paced fight for both athletes – edge‑of‑your‑seat action from start to finish." Itauma had entered the match hoping to become Britain’s youngest heavyweight world champion, a milestone that now appears out of reach. Warren admitted uncertainty about the youngster’s next steps, saying, "I don’t know what he’ll say. I’m sure he’s a fighting man – he showed that to the end. It was a war of fireworks, both men just standing there trading blows.
I don’t even know how he feels mentally. He’ll need time to recover, both physically and mentally. We’ll talk to him, lift his spirits, and see where he stands.
It will take a while – maybe a couple of weeks or a month – before we decide the next move." Meanwhile, Hrgovic must turn his attention to the IBF’s mandatory challenger, Frank Sanchez, as he looks to defend his newly won title. The Croatian’s victory over Itauma, despite the young fighter’s flashes of brilliance, underscores the importance of experience, conditioning, and strategic patience in the heavyweight division. For Itauma, the loss serves as a learning experience that, if addressed, could still pave the way for a successful future in the sport.