LONDON — Filip Hrgovic walked into London as the underdog, survived everything one of boxing’s most dangerous young heavyweights could throw at him and walked out of the O2 Arena having made history.
Hrgovic pulled off a stunning upset Saturday night, stopping previously unbeaten Moses Itauma at 2:27 of the ninth round to capture the vacant IBF heavyweight championship and become Croatia’s first world heavyweight champion. It was a remarkable comeback in a fight Hrgovic appeared in danger of losing several times.
The heavily favored Itauma entered the ring attempting to become Britain’s youngest heavyweight world champion and the second-youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history behind Mike Tyson. For much of the early fight, it appeared the 21-year-old phenom was on his way to doing exactly that.
Instead, Hrgovic refused to go away. The 34-year-old Croatian survived a second-round knockdown, absorbed tremendous punishment and waited for Itauma to enter territory he had never experienced before. Then he took over.
Itauma Nearly Ends It Early
Itauma (14-1, 12 KOs) entered the biggest fight of his career with a reputation as one of boxing’s most destructive young punchers, and the southpaw immediately demonstrated why.
His speed and power caused Hrgovic problems from the opening rounds, and Itauma dropped the Croatian in the second. At various points, it seemed only a matter of time before another combination would finish the job.
But Hrgovic (21-1, 16 KOs) kept surviving.
Every time Itauma appeared close to breaking him, the veteran found a way to remain upright and continue fighting. Hrgovic’s durability slowly changed the complexion of the bout.
Itauma had never fought beyond six rounds as a professional. Hrgovic knew it. Once the fight moved into unfamiliar territory, the momentum began to change dramatically.
Hrgovic Turns the Fight Around
The punches that looked explosive earlier were no longer arriving with the same force. Itauma’s movement slowed, his output declined and Hrgovic began forcing him backward.
Suddenly, the hunter became the hunted. The Croatian veteran pressed forward as Itauma struggled with exhaustion and what promoter Frank Warren later described as an unspecified leg injury suffered during the fight.
Hrgovic continued applying pressure until Itauma could no longer answer. In the ninth round, with Itauma trapped and physically exhausted, referee Howard Foster stepped in at 2:27 as trainer Ben Davison’s towel came into the ring.
Itauma was left unable to stand in his corner. Hrgovic had done it. After surviving the knockdown, the speed, the power and the early assault, Croatia had its first heavyweight world champion as Itauma had to be taken out of the ring in a stretcher.
Itauma’s History-Making Bid Ends
The defeat was particularly stunning because Itauma had never experienced anything like it. Not only was it his first professional defeat, it was reportedly the first loss of his amateur or professional career across 39 combined bouts.
A victory would’ve placed Itauma alongside one of the most iconic names in heavyweight history. Mike Tyson remains the youngest heavyweight champion ever after defeating Trevor Berbick at 20 years old in 1986. Itauma, at 21, had an opportunity to move into the No. 2 position on that historic list. Hrgovic took that opportunity away from him.
But Itauma’s loss may ultimately become one of the most important nights of his development. He demonstrated why so many believe he possesses championship-level talent, but Hrgovic exposed questions that couldn’t be answered through early knockouts: stamina, adversity and how Itauma would respond when an opponent simply refused to disappear. On Saturday night, Hrgovic had the answers.
Hrgovic Completes an Incredible Comeback
Hrgovic’s victory is even more remarkable considering where his career stood following his lone professional defeat. Once viewed as one of the division’s most dangerous contenders, the Croatian had been forced to rebuild his championship ambitions.
Against Itauma, he needed every ounce of that experience. Hrgovic couldn’t match the younger man’s speed early. He couldn’t avoid all of his power. And after hitting the canvas in the second round, there were moments when simply reaching the final bell seemed uncertain.
But heavyweight boxing has never been determined solely by who is younger, faster or more explosive. Sometimes it comes down to who can survive. Hrgovic survived long enough to drag Itauma into deep water, and once they got there, the veteran discovered that the young heavyweight sensation couldn’t swim with him.
Saturday night was supposed to be Moses Itauma’s coronation. Instead, it became Filip Hrgovic’s night of immortality. After nine unforgettable rounds in London, Hrgovic wasn’t merely the man who upset one of boxing’s brightest young stars. He was the heavyweight champion of the world.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
