Filip Hrgovic Beats Moses Itauma to Claim Vacant IBF Heavyweight Title

Filip Hrgovic defeated Moses Itauma in the ninth round at London's O2 Arena on Saturday to claim the vacant IBF heavyweight title. BBC Sport reported that Itauma's corner threw in the towel after the British challenger became barely able to stand while Hrgovic increased the pressure. The result ended Itauma's attempt to become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSZ6P406Pgw

Itauma, 21, entered the bout as the favourite after winning each of his first 14 professional contests. The early stages appeared to support that status, with the younger fighter setting a pace that Hrgovic struggled to match. Hrgovic, 34, remained in the contest, however, and his greater experience and noted durability became decisive as the fight moved into its later rounds.

According to the BBC account, Itauma appeared to exhaust himself before Hrgovic took control. The Croatian continued applying pressure until Itauma's team intervened during the ninth round. Hrgovic arrived with only one professional defeat on his record, a loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024, and secured the championship after withstanding Itauma's fast start.

Itauma acknowledged afterward that the night had not gone as planned and congratulated Hrgovic on the victory in a social-media statement. He said the attempt to achieve something exceptional had fallen short against the more experienced boxer, while adding that the lessons from the defeat would be carried into future fights. He also stated that he intended to return.

The beaten challenger left the arena on a stretcher and was taken to hospital. BBC Sport reported that he underwent precautionary medical checks and was released overnight. The report did not identify a specific injury, so the available information establishes only that he was assessed and allowed to leave after those checks.

Queensberry Promotions head Frank Warren said the defeat removed Itauma's aura of invincibility but maintained that the heavyweight remains an exceptional talent. Warren said the fighter needs additional ring craft and should move away from trying to knock out every opponent. He also indicated that Queensberry would continue supporting Itauma as the 21-year-old rebuilds after the first loss of his professional career.