‘Unbelievable’ – Stephenson & Bellow react to Hrgovic’s stoppage of Itauma
Moses Itauma's bid to win the vacant IBF heavyweight title fell short as he was stopped in the ninth round by Filip Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena, despite dominating much of the fight. The 21-year-old Briton, unbeaten in 14 professional bouts, tired after passing the sixth-round mark for the first time in his career, allowing the more experienced 34-year-old Croatian to seize control and claim a historic win as Croatia's first heavyweight world champion.
Itauma had entered the bout having built his reputation on rapid knockouts, including a 23-second professional debut, but had never boxed beyond six rounds or sparred a full 12-round contest. His trainer, Ben Davison, nearly stopped the fight early in the ninth before referee Howard Foster ultimately halted it as Itauma struggled to stay upright. Fellow boxers including Shakur Stevenson, Tony Bellew and Chris Eubank Jr praised his talent and toughness on social media, with Stevenson and Bellew predicting he will still become a world champion once he learns to pace himself over longer fights.
- Moses Itauma stopped by Filip Hrgovic in round nine for IBF title
- Itauma dominated early but faded after passing six-round mark
- Boxing figures praised his potential despite the defeat
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Moses Itauma, a 21-year-old British boxer, went into this fight unbeaten in 14 professional bouts, most of them won by fast knockout, and was chasing the vacant IBF heavyweight world title. His opponent, Filip Hrgovic, is a 34-year-old Croatian fighter with far more experience going the distance. The bout took place at London's O2 Arena.
Heavyweight boxing is the sport's most prestigious weight class, and the IBF is one of the main organisations that award world championship belts. Itauma had built his reputation on quick, explosive wins and had never previously fought past six rounds, which made this longer, tougher contest a significant test of his stamina and durability against a seasoned rival.
The fight matters because it was seen as a major step in Itauma's career, with many expecting him to become a dominant force in heavyweight boxing. Other well-known boxers, including Shakur Stevenson, Tony Bellew and Chris Eubank Jr, are prominent figures in the sport whose public reactions carry weight with fans and commentators.