Filip Hrgović wins IBF heavyweight title against Moses Itauma

Filip Hrgović secured the vacant IBF heavyweight title by defeating 21-year-old British boxer Moses Itauma via technical knockout in the ninth round at London’s O2 Arena.

Despite Itauma dominating the early rounds and scoring a knockdown in the second, exhaustion caused him to struggle defensively in the later stages of the fight. The referee stopped the bout in the ninth round, after which Itauma required oxygen and was briefly hospitalized before being discharged.

In subsequent comments, Itauma expressed difficulty in accepting the loss, noting that he was leading on all judges' scorecards before his body began to shut down. He praised Hrgović’s resilience and stated he intends to take time to recover with his family before contacting promoter Frank Warren to plan his return to the ring.