21-year-old Itauma stopped after ninth-round rally
34-year-old Hrgovic is first Croat to win such a title
Moses Itauma’s hopes of becoming the second-youngest world heavyweight champion in history lay in ruins after the extraordinarily tough and resilient Filip Hrgovic stopped him in the ninth round of their IBF title fight. Yet, until the latter stages of round eight, the sheer speed and dextrous power of the Briton had dominated the contest, with the Croat being dropped in the second and caught again and again by jolting combinations.
The fight changed course when Itauma’s stamina suddenly dipped and he began to weave in woozy fatigue as Hrgovic fought back with granite-like determination. Itauma could not withstand the dark storm rolling over him in the ninth and he sank back against the ropes as Hrgovic opened up with renewed conviction. Just as the referee stepped in to stop the fight, Ben Davison, Itauma’s trainer, also sent a white towel sailing sadly over the listing ropes to save his man from a knockout.
The shocking twist was too much for the 21-year-old and he left the ring on a stretcher, apparently having injured his knee. But the damage was done by the remarkable fightback from his opponent, who made his own significant slice of boxing history. The admirable Hrgovic is the first world heavyweight champion from Croatia – a country that has no real boxing heritage.
The shock result was also a sobering reminder that, for all Itauma’s obvious skill, a heavyweight tyro is always vulnerable to a world-class opponent who simply refuses to surrender. Itauma’s inexperience also cost him badly for, rather than boxing with more care and staying out of trouble from the eighth round onwards, he allowed himself to be caught up in a slugfest.
Before the late dramatics, Itauma walked with calm solemnity to the ring, seemingly unmoved by the fact that the crammed and partisan crowd had begun singing his name in raucous harmony even before he left his dressing room.
Fighting out of a southpaw stance, Itauma landed the first meaningful punch, a sweeping right hand. Moving with menacing intent Itauma clipped Hrgovic with fast and cuffing blows. His speed was striking as he backed up the bigger man with a shuddering right cross which nailed and shook up Hrgovic.
Itauma missed with a scything left early in the second but Hrgovic walked almost immediately on to a jolting short right hook which dropped him to the canvas for a count of eight. Hrgovic fought back near the end of the round only for Itauma to produce another blistering combination.
A sharp left snapped back Hrgovic’s head at the start of the third, as sweat glistened on the faces and torsos of both men. Itauma switched to the body, sinking a cruel blow to Hrgovic’s gut, but the Croat refused to wilt. His vociferous supporters at ringside began screaming their support as he had a measure of success for the first time in the fight to prove that his ambition remained undimmed.
Itauma began to grimace occasionally as the pace of the fight began to leave its mark. A beautiful short left snaked through Hrgovic’s defence in the fifth but the older man marched forward with stoic determination. Itauma was starting to breathe heavily and he had to use a glove to slip his black gum shield back into his mouth. It was the first real sign of distress in Itauma’s previously impassive expression. But at the bell a spiteful uppercut rocked back Hrgovic’s head on the plinth of his massive neck.
The cut about Hrgovic’s right eye began to seep with a tickle of blood. But just before the bell Hrgovic landed some heavy shots. Itauma absorbed them and fired back as the fight really caught fire.
Itauma had never boxed more than six rounds before and he entered uncharted territory in the seventh. But he again forced Hrgovic on to the back foot and landed some deft combinations.
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Hrgovic ate one meaty blow after another in the eighth round but was resolute as ever. Itauma looked desperately weary as Hrgovic, unbelievably, rallied again. He would soon overwhelm the exhausted youngster and finish a remarkable resurgence.
