The Croatian prevails in a spectacular heavyweight bout against Moses Itauma. The Brit ends up in the hospital afterward.
Croatian boxer Filip Hrgovic has been crowned the IBF heavyweight world champion. The 34-year-old defeated rising star Moses Itauma (Great Britain) by technical knockout in the ninth round on Saturday in London, securing the vacant world championship belt. This makes Hrgovic a potential next opponent for German WBC champion Agit Kabayel.
Itauma, for whom this was his first loss in 15 professional fights, could have become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion after Mike Tyson. The 21-year-old dominated early on, and Hrgovic was even counted out in the second round.
Itauma completely ran out of steam as the fight progressed, and after taking several heavy blows, Howard Foster stopped the fight. Itauma ultimately had to be carried out of the ring on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.
Kabayel: “Moses doesn’t have enough experience”
“Before the fight, everyone said Itauma would win. But I saw that Hrgovic is in very good shape,” said Kabayel, who was present at the arena, in an interview with Ring Magazine: “That’s why I say: Moses doesn’t have enough experience. Hrgovic has fought so many big guys in his career.” The world title fight came “two or three fights too early” for Itauma.
Meanwhile, Kabayel himself brought up the possibility of a unification bout against Hrgovic. The Bochum native, previously the WBC interim champion, had become the first German heavyweight world champion since Max Schmeling after Alexander Usyk relinquished all his titles. As a result, the IBF belt had also become vacant.