Filip Hrgovic stopped the unbeaten Moses Itauma in the ninth round at London's O2 Arena to win the vacant IBF heavyweight world title. The Croatian, a +500 underdog, became his country's first ever heavyweight champion after losing every round on the cards.
A knockdown, then a long chase
Itauma scored a knockdown seconds into round two, a right hook that made Hrgovic touch the canvas. Ringside counts showed the young Briton landing 40 power punches to Hrgovic's one by the middle of round three. Observers had Itauma sweeping every round, building an 80-71 lead through eight.
The tank empties, the tide turns
Hrgovic absorbed the punishment with an iron chin and let Itauma punch himself out. The favourite, fast and sharp early on, could not manage the pace against a heavyweight with proven durability. The moment Itauma's energy drained, Hrgovic took over the fight.
Trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel as referee Howard Foster stopped the action. Itauma, out on his feet, was stretchered off for medical care. The stoppage came at 2:37 of the ninth round.
Croatia's first, after a long wait
Hrgovic's career had stalled while Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury boxed a trilogy, with his IBF mandatory spot going unfulfilled. He lost an interim fight to Daniel Dubois in 2024, then rebuilt with wins over Joe Joyce and David Adeleye. This victory overshadowed every result that came before.
"I was losing every round, I was outboxed," Hrgovic told reporters afterwards. "I don't know from where I got energy in that ninth round." Itauma, who entered at 14-0 with 12 knockouts, would have become boxing's second-youngest heavyweight champion behind Mike Tyson had he won.
The Croatian flag now flies over a division where it had never been raised before.
