Hrgović's comeback TKO over Itauma delivers historic heavyweight title
Filip Hrgović stopped Moses Itauma in the ninth round to win the IBF heavyweight title at the O2 Arena in London. The 34-year-old Croatian rallied after trailing early, becoming the first heavyweight champion from his country. Itauma, 21, was attempting to become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson.
Hrgović entered Saturday's bout as a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist with a 20-1 professional record, while Itauma had compiled a 14-0 mark with 12 knockouts, eight of them in the opening round. The British challenger had fought only 31 professional rounds total, a factor that proved decisive as the fight wore on. Hrgović's lone previous defeat came in June 2024 against Daniel Dubois, a bout stopped due to cuts above both eyebrows, making his resilience here notable after sustaining a cut above his right eye in the fourth round.
The fight's momentum shifted in the fifth and sixth rounds, with Hrgović landing repeated hard right hands as Itauma visibly fatigued. Trainer Ben Davison's decision to throw in the towel with 33 seconds remaining in Round 9 echoed his earlier admission after Fabio Wardley's May loss to Dubois, when he acknowledged he could have stopped that fight sooner. The victory marks a historic milestone for Croatian boxing.
This result could reshape the heavyweight division's near-term trajectory, denying Itauma the Tyson-comparison narrative while elevating Hrgović into a new champion with fresh unification possibilities. Boxing fans may see renewed debate about whether elite prospects need more seasoning before title shots, as Itauma's early-round dominance gave way to exhaustion. The outcome could also boost interest in Croatian boxing and inspire broader viewership in that market, while the dramatic comeback may strengthen the sport's mainstream appeal.