Filip Hrgovic lauded Moses Itauma after the surprising ninth‑round stoppage, but he also noted that the young Brit fought in a manner more reminiscent of an amateur than a seasoned professional. The 34‑year‑old Croatian, who made history on Saturday night at London’s O2 Arena by capturing the vacant IBF heavyweight crown, became the first world heavyweight champion from Croatia.
Itauma, only 21 and unbeaten before the bout, started the contest strongly. For the first six rounds he displayed crisp, accurate punching and seemed to dictate the tempo, landing a series of clean blows that kept Hrgovic on the back foot. However, as the fight wore on, the youngster’s stamina began to wane.
He struggled to penetrate Hrgovic’s solid chin, and the seventh round marked the first time in his career that he had ever been forced beyond the halfway point of a fight. Seeing his opponent tiring, Hrgovic seized the opportunity in the ninth round.
He increased the pressure, landed a decisive combination and forced the British camp to throw in the towel, ending the contest in dramatic fashion. In the post‑fight interview, Hrgovic praised Itauma’s raw talent, calling him the most gifted heavyweight he had ever faced, but he also observed that the Brit’s style still bore the hallmarks of an amateur. "To be honest, he’s amazing," Hrgovic said.
"I didn’t expect it to be so tough; I thought I could handle him more easily. I was losing every round. The kid is lightning‑quick; you never see his punches coming. He doesn’t have massive power, but his speed is exceptional.
From the first round I could tell he was gasping for air, and his boxing still looked amateurish. He’s inexperienced, and once I realized he was tiring, 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." He continued, "I came to London, his hometown, against the division’s most talented youngster and I beat the odds.
I want to be recognised as the world’s best heavyweight – this is my moment. I am the present; he is the future. I aim to pursue unification fights against the likes of Caroline Dubois or Agit Kabayel.
Unification is my goal." Itauma entered the ring with a reputation as one of the sport’s brightest prospects, having amassed several early‑career knockouts that turned heads. Yet the fight exposed a critical area for improvement: pacing.
Against a durable opponent like Hrgovic, the young Brit needs to learn how to conserve energy and manage his output so he can remain effective beyond the midway point of a bout. 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 confirmed that he had been released and was back home with his family.
"Moses is well," the spokesperson said. "He left the hospital last night and is now at home with his loved ones." Promoter Frank Warren emphasized the priority of the boxer’s health, adding, "We always make sure the fighter’s wellbeing comes first. He’s in a good place now, and we’ll get a full medical report before saying anything more.
He also suffered a leg injury and was clearly exhausted – it was a high‑tempo, fast‑paced fight for both men, edge‑of‑your‑seat action from start to finish." Itauma had hoped to become Britain’s youngest heavyweight world champion, but Warren admitted the future is uncertain. "I don’t know what he’ll decide," Warren said.
"He’s a fighter’s fighter; he showed his heart to the very end. Mentally, he’ll need time to recover. We’ll talk to him, lift his spirits and see where he stands. It’ll be a couple of weeks, maybe a month, before we discuss his next steps." The bout also highlighted the stark contrast between raw athleticism and seasoned ringcraft.
While Itauma’s speed and reflexes impressed, his lack of experience in managing fight tempo and conserving energy ultimately cost him. Hrgovic’s veteran instincts allowed him to weather the early storm, wait for the opponent’s fatigue, and then unleash a decisive attack when the moment was right. Looking ahead, Hrgovic’s next challenge will be the IBF mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, a test that will further cement his status as a world champion.
For Itauma, the road forward will involve rebuilding confidence, refining his conditioning, and adding strategic depth to his repertoire. If he can address these areas, his youthful talent could still blossom into a lasting heavyweight legacy.