Sports · 30 August, 2026 · 3 min read
Filip Hrgovic Stops Moses Itauma In Ninth Round To Claim Vacant IBF Heavyweight Title
Hrgovic stopped Itauma in the ninth round to win the vacant IBF heavyweight title. He became Croatia's first heavyweight world champion.
Reason for hospital visit: precautionary check-up vs injury suspected.
2 of 3 outlets skipped it: hrgovic named specific preferred unification targets (Dubois, Kabayel).
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The Guardian suggests a knee injury; The Independent frames hospital as precautionary checks.
Hrgovic TKO in London
Filip Hrgovic became Croatia’s first world heavyweight boxing champion by stopping Britain’s Moses Itauma in the ninth round to claim the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) title in London at the O2 Arena.
“stopping Britain’s Moses Itauma in the ninth round to claim the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) title in London”
The fight began with Itauma, who was 21, landing a second-round knockdown and drawing a standing eight count in the second round after a right hook, but Hrgovic rallied as both fighters appeared visibly exhausted by the eighth round.
Referee Howard Foster ended the contest in the ninth round after Itauma became increasingly unsteady, and Itauma was taken from the ring on a stretcher and transported to hospital following the bout.
Hrgovic said after the fight, “I’m the present, and he’s definitely the future,” praising Itauma while suggesting the young British boxer needed more experience.
The IBF title became vacant after Ukrainian heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt, and Hrgovic’s win improved his professional record after his only previous defeat came against Daniel Dubois in 2024.
Towels, stretcher, quotes
Multiple outlets described the stoppage as Itauma’s corner threw in the towel as he appeared exhausted and unsteady, with The Independent saying trainer Ben Davison also threw in the towel as referee Howard Foster came to his rescue.T
The Guardian reported that “Ben Davison, Itauma’s trainer, also sent a white towel sailing sadly over the listing ropes,” as Itauma left the ring on a stretcher apparently having injured his knee.T
Hrgovic credited his trainer Abel Sanchez and said he found the energy to get through the late stages of the fight despite his own fatigue, while also crediting Itauma as “the best I’ve been in the ring with” and saying he “needs more experience.”
Promoter Frank Warren said after the bout that “Moses has gone to the hospital for a check up,” framing it as precautionary and tied to health checks.
Hrgovic also said he wants a unification fight and specifically named WBC titleholder Agit Kabayel as a target, while Sky News said the referee stopped the fight with 34 seconds left as trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel.
Next fights and title picture
After winning the vacant IBF heavyweight title, Hrgovic said he wants to pursue unification fights rather than immediately face Frank Sanchez, adding, “Frank Sanchez will wait,” and naming WBO champion Daniel Dubois and WBC titleholder Agit Kabayel as preferred targets.
““I want unification. Frank Sanchez will wait,” Hrgovic said.”
The Independent said Hrgovic must now take on the IBF’s mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, who was paid step aside money to enable him to face Itauma, while Voice of Nigeria reported that promoter Frank Warren quickly killed Hrgovic’s idea of a fight with Agit Kabayel.T
Sky Sports described the result as reshaping the heavyweight title picture with the IBF belt now in Croatian hands, while also noting that Itauma suffered his first professional defeat after being unbeaten coming into the fight.
CBS Sports said Hrgovic entered the fight around a +500 underdog and scored a ninth-round TKO, and it quoted Hrgovic saying, “I was losing every round, I was outboxed,” before describing how he found energy in the ninth.
The Ring’s live reaction also framed the moment as a seismic result at London’s O2 Arena, with Hrgovic becoming IBF heavyweight world champion and the official time of the stoppage given as 2:29.