Filip Hrgovic stopped Britain's Moses Itauma in the ninth round of their IBF title fight, shattering the 21-year-old's hopes of becoming the second-youngest world heavyweight champion in history. The 34-year-old Croatian, who was dropped in the second round and trailed on the scorecards, mounted a remarkable comeback as Itauma's stamina suddenly deserted him.
Itauma's Early Dominance
Itauma, fighting out of a southpaw stance, controlled the early rounds with his superior speed and power. He landed the first meaningful punch, a sweeping right hand, and continued to back up the bigger man with jolting combinations. In the second round, a short right hook dropped Hrgovic for a count of eight, and Itauma kept landing blistering shots through the middle rounds.
The Briton's movement and accuracy were striking. He switched to the body in the third, sinking a cruel blow to Hrgovic's gut, and a beautiful short left snaked through Hrgovic's defence in the fifth. However, signs of fatigue began to appear as Itauma breathed heavily and had to push his gum shield back into place.
The Turning Point
Itauma had never boxed more than six rounds before, and he entered uncharted territory in the seventh. He still forced Hrgovic onto the back foot, but the Croatian's relentless pressure began to take its toll. In the eighth round, Itauma looked desperately weary as Hrgovic, despite eating heavy shots, rallied again.
The fight changed course when Itauma's stamina dipped and he began to weave in woozy fatigue. In the ninth, Hrgovic opened up with renewed conviction, and Itauma sank back against the ropes. Ben Davison, Itauma's trainer, threw in the white towel to save his man from a knockout. Itauma left the ring on a stretcher, apparently having injured his knee.
Historic Victory for Croatia
Hrgovic's victory makes him the first world heavyweight champion from Croatia, a country with no real boxing heritage. He had lost only one previous bout in his nine-year professional career. "It was not me tonight," Hrgovic said. "It was Jesus Christ in me. Holy Spirit. Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. I was losing every round. I was outboxed. And I don't know from where I got energy in that ninth round."
He praised his opponent: "He's an amazing fighter. I want to thank him for accepting this fight, to give me a chance to become a new superstar in the heavyweight division. I'm the present and he's definitely the future." Throughout fight week, Hrgovic had suggested that becoming champion at such a young age would be "bad for his soul" for Itauma, who was uncertain whether his title shot had arrived too early.
Itauma, who is young enough to come back from this crushing disappointment, was rendered helpless by Hrgovic's superior stamina and will. The new champion administered a chastening lesson in the harsh realities of heavyweight boxing.
