Filip Hrgovic lauded Moses Itauma after delivering a stunning ninth‑round stoppage, but he also noted that the young Brit fought in a manner reminiscent of an amateur. The 34‑year‑old Croatian, who made history on Saturday night at The O2 by becoming Croatia's inaugural world heavyweight champion and claiming the vacant IBF heavyweight belt, praised Itauma's skill while pointing out the gaps in his experience.
Itauma, only 21 and unbeaten before stepping into the ring, started the bout strongly. For the first six rounds he dictated the pace, landing a series of crisp, accurate punches that kept Hrgovic on the back foot. Observers noted his speed and timing, qualities that have earmarked him as one of the sport's most promising prospects.
However, as the fight wore on, the British fighter began to show signs of fatigue. By the seventh round, a milestone for Itauma—his first time ever going beyond six rounds—he was visibly tiring and struggled to penetrate Hrgovic's sturdy chin.
The Croatian seized the moment in the ninth round, launching a flurry that forced the British corner to throw in the towel. After the victory, Hrgovic spoke highly of Itauma's natural talent, calling him "the most gifted heavyweight in the division," but he also emphasized that the youngster's style still resembled that of an amateur boxer. "Let me be honest, he's amazing. I didn't know it would be this difficult; I thought I could handle him more easily," Hrgovic said in the post‑fight interview.
He continued: "I was losing all the rounds. The kid is amazing, he was so fast, you don't see his punches coming.
He doesn't hit hard but he's quick. From the first round I could see he was gassing out, still boxing like an amateur. He's inexperienced; I saw his stamina fading and I knew my only chance was to stay in there, wear him down and look for a stoppage later.
That's exactly what I did." Hrgovic added a note of personal pride, stating, "I came to London, his hometown, against the most talented guy in the division and I beat all the odds. I want to be considered the best heavyweight in the world, and this is my time. I am the best.
I am the present and he is the future. I want to fight for unification against Dubois or Agit Kabayel.
I want to go for unification, that's what I want." Itauma entered the fight with a reputation as one of boxing's brightest young talents, having earned early knockout victories that sparked excitement among fans and pundits alike. Yet the bout highlighted a crucial area for his development: pacing.
When faced with a durable opponent who can absorb punches and apply steady pressure, Itauma must learn to conserve energy and manage his output over the full distance of a championship fight. Following the stoppage, Itauma was carried out on a stretcher and taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Queensberry Promotions later confirmed that he had been released and was back home with his family. A spokesperson for the promotion said, "Moses is well. He left the hospital last night and is back at home with his family." Promoter Frank Warren, who has overseen many high‑profile bouts, emphasized the priority of the boxer's health. "That's what we always do to make sure because the most important thing is the boxer's health.
He's there and he's in the best place. We'll see what happens when I've got a report. We'll obviously let everybody know.
He's done something to his leg as well and he was quite tired. It was a high‑paced, fast fight for both the guys. It was edge‑of‑your‑seat stuff all the way through," Warren explained. Itauma had hoped to become Britain's youngest heavyweight world champion, a milestone that now appears uncertain.
Warren admitted that the future for the 21‑year‑old remains unclear, noting the mental and physical toll the fight may have taken. "I don't know what he's going to say.
I'm sure he's a fighting man. He showed that right to the end. At the end, that's the type of fight it was – they were standing there just letting bombs go. I don't even know how he feels mentally.
Mentally, he's going to be completely down. We're going to have to talk to him and lift him and see what he's like. It's going to take some time.
He's going to have a nice break. It's not even the time to talk about it with him at the moment. It's something we're probably doing in two weeks or even a month's time, see where we go with it." Looking ahead, Hrgovic's next challenge will be the IBF mandatory challenger, Frank Sanchez, as he seeks to defend his newly won title and move toward unification fights that could further cement his legacy. The bout between Hrgovic and Itauma will be remembered not only for the dramatic ninth‑round finish but also for the glimpse it offered into the future of heavyweight boxing, where a seasoned champion and a rising star collided, each showcasing the strengths and growing pains of their respective stages in the sport.