Moses Itauma’s bid to become one of boxing’s youngest heavyweight world champions has ended in devastating fashion, with Filip Hrgovic stunning the previously unbeaten British star before he was carried from the ring on a stretcher and taken to hospital.
The 21-year-old entered Saturday night’s blockbuster at London’s O2 Arena attempting to become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history behind only Mike Tyson, but instead suffered the first defeat of his professional career after Hrgovic secured a ninth-round stoppage.
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The victory handed the 34-year-old Croatian the vacant IBF heavyweight title and made him his country’s first world heavyweight champion.
Itauma appeared on course for a historic night early, repeatedly landing straight left hands and forcing Hrgovic to take a standing eight count after catching him with a right hook in the second round.
A powerful uppercut at the end of the fifth brought the London crowd to its feet, but Hrgovic refused to go away and began dragging Itauma into unfamiliar territory.
The British heavyweight had never previously fought beyond the sixth round and began to tire as the fight wore on, while Hrgovic continued to absorb punishment and land powerful shots of his own.
By the ninth, Itauma’s legs had become increasingly unsteady and he appeared close to toppling over as Hrgovic piled on the pressure.
Referee Howard Foster called an end to the fight as Itauma’s trainer Ben Davison also threw in the towel, completing a stunning turnaround.
The concerning scenes continued after the stoppage, with Itauma removed from ringside on a stretcher and taken to hospital.
Promoter Frank Warren said the 21-year-old had suffered a leg injury, which may have contributed to his mobility problems during the closing rounds.
“I don’t know from where I got energy in that (ninth) round,” Hrgovic said after the fight.
“It was really not my strength. It was Holy Spirit.”
Despite ending Itauma’s unbeaten record, Hrgovic delivered a glowing assessment of the highly-rated heavyweight’s future.
“I’m the present, and he’s definitely the future,” Hrgovic said.
“He’s an amazing fighter. He’s one of a kind. He’s the best I’ve been in a ring with, but he needed more experience.
“I felt the pace of the fight. I knew I was losing rounds, but I knew that I had that pace in my favour. He was gassing out.”
The victory also buried the disappointment of Hrgovic’s 2024 defeat to Daniel Dubois in an interim IBF heavyweight title fight, which remains the only loss of his professional career.
Hrgovic now has his sights set on unifying the heavyweight division, calling for a fight with WBC champion Agit Kabayel after the pair spoke inside the ring following his victory.
Warren also suggested Frank Sanchez could be a potential next opponent after he was paid step-aside money to allow Saturday’s title fight to take place.
But the night ultimately belonged to Hrgovic, who leaves London a world champion after ending Itauma’s unbeaten run and denying the 21-year-old a place alongside Tyson in heavyweight boxing history.