Filip Hrgovic lauded the performance of Moses Itauma after delivering a 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 captured the vacant IBF heavyweight crown at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night, became the first boxer from Croatia to hold a world heavyweight title.
Itauma, only 21 and unbeaten heading into the bout, dominated the opening half of the contest. He landed a flurry of precise punches that saw him control the pace and dictate the action through rounds one to six. However, as the fight wore on, the youngster’s stamina began to falter.
He struggled to penetrate Hrgovic’s sturdy chin, and the seventh round marked the first time in his career that he had ever been forced to go beyond six rounds. Seizing the opportunity, Hrgovic unleashed a decisive attack in the ninth round, prompting Itauma’s corner to throw in the towel. In the post‑fight interview, the Croatian champion praised Itauma as the most gifted heavyweight in the division, yet he also observed that the Brit’s style was still very much that of an amateur boxer.
"To be honest, he’s amazing," Hrgovic said. "I didn’t anticipate it would be this tough; I thought I could handle him more easily.
The kid is incredibly quick, and his punches are hard to see coming. He doesn’t hit with massive power, but his speed is exceptional. From the first round I could tell he was starting to gas out, and his technique reminded me of an amateur’s approach.
He was inexperienced, and I realized my best chance was to stay patient, let him tire, keep the pressure on and look for a stoppage later. That’s exactly what I did." He added, "I traveled to London, his hometown, to face the division’s top talent and I defied the odds. I want to be recognized as the world’s best heavyweight, and now is my moment.
I am the present, he is the future. My goal is to pursue unification fights against the likes of Daniel Dubois or Agit Kabayel.
Unification is what I’m after." Itauma entered the fight with a reputation as one of boxing’s brightest young prospects, having earned early knockout victories that raised expectations. The bout, however, exposed a need for better pacing when confronting durable opponents who can survive the early onslaught. After the referee stopped the contest, 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.
"Moses is well," a spokesperson for Queensberry said. "He left the hospital last night and is now at home with his family." Promoter Frank Warren emphasized the importance of the fighter’s health, stating, "We always prioritize the boxer’s wellbeing. He’s in a good place now, and we’ll provide updates as soon as we have a full medical report. He also suffered a leg injury and was clearly exhausted.
It was a high‑tempo, fast‑paced fight for both men, full of edge‑of‑your‑seat moments throughout." Itauma had been aiming to become Britain’s youngest heavyweight world champion, but Warren admitted that his future path remains uncertain. "I don’t know what he’ll decide. He’s a fighter’s fighter and he proved that right up to the end.
The bout was a war of fireworks, both men trading blows. Mentally, he may be down right now; we’ll need to talk to him, give him time to recover, and see where he wants to go. It will take a while – perhaps a few weeks or a month – before we discuss his next steps." Looking ahead, Hrgovic’s next challenge will be the IBF’s mandatory challenger, Frank Sanchez, as he seeks to defend his newly won title and continue his quest for unification across the heavyweight landscape. The fight highlighted several broader themes within the sport.
It underscored the importance of conditioning for young prospects who may possess raw talent but lack the endurance required for twelve‑round battles. It also illustrated how seasoned champions can exploit an opponent’s fatigue, using strategic patience to wear down a faster but less experienced adversary. Moreover, the post‑fight comments from both Hrgovic and Warren reflect the delicate balance between celebrating a fighter’s skill set and acknowledging the need for growth and adaptation at the elite level.
In summary, while Moses Itauma demonstrated flashes of brilliance and speed that impressed even the new heavyweight champion, his performance also revealed the growing pains typical of a boxer transitioning from the amateur ranks to the world stage. Filip Hrgovic’s victory not only secured him a historic title for Croatia but also set the stage for future unification bouts that could reshape the heavyweight division’s hierarchy.