Croatian boxer stops British challenger to claim vacant heavyweight crown

Filip Hrgovic defeated Moses Itauma by ninth-round stoppage in London to win the vacant IBF heavyweight title. Itauma, who led early, faded and was taken to hospital on a stretcher after the bout. Hrgovic becomes the first Croatian world heavyweight champion.

Hrgovic, a 34-year-old Olympic bronze medalist, had previously challenged for the same title in 2024, when his lone career defeat came at the hands of Daniel Dubois after the ringside doctor halted that bout due to severe cuts above his eyes. Saturday's victory in London marked the first time the IBF crown changed hands since Oleksandr Usyk vacated it, and it was also the first heavyweight championship bout for Itauma, whose 15-fight professional record had never previously extended beyond six rounds.

The fight's dramatic arc saw Itauma control the early exchanges, landing repeated straight left hands and forcing a standing eight count in the second round, with his fifth-round uppercut drawing applause from the partisan crowd. However, by the eighth round both fighters were visibly exhausted, and Hrgovic's durability proved decisive as referee Howard Foster intervened in the ninth with Itauma unsteady on his feet.