British-Nigerian heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma’s world-title dream suffered a dramatic collapse in the early hours of Sunday after he was stopped by Croatian contender Filip Hrgovic in a stunning heavyweight contest at London’s O2 Arena.
The 21-year-old, who had been widely tipped as one of boxing’s brightest heavyweight prospects, was carried from the arena on a stretcher after appearing exhausted and struggling to remain on his feet in the ninth round, reports BBC.
Itauma had looked destined for victory early in the contest, dominating Hrgovic with speed, combinations and sustained pressure before flooring the Croatian in the second round.
But the relentless pace began to take its toll.
Despite holding a commanding advantage for much of the fight, Itauma continued to pursue a knockout rather than conserve energy and box his way to victory. By the third round, he was already visibly breathing heavily, while Hrgovic remained dangerous and increasingly confident.
The Croatian absorbed Itauma’s punishment and gradually turned the fight around.
The decisive moment came in the ninth round when Hrgovic landed a heavy right hand that sent Itauma staggering backwards. With his legs visibly unsteady and his ability to defend himself badly compromised, Hrgovic swarmed forward.
Itauma eventually slumped into his corner, prompting his team to throw in the towel as referee Howard Foster stopped the contest.
Medical personnel attended to the young fighter before he was taken from the arena on a stretcher.
The defeat ended a remarkable unbeaten run for Itauma, who had stopped 12 of his previous 14 professional opponents and entered the bout as a heavily favoured contender for the vacant IBF heavyweight championship.
Victory would have made Itauma the second-youngest world heavyweight champion in boxing history.
Instead, Hrgovic completed one of the most remarkable comebacks of his career and became Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion.
Hrgovic, an Olympic bronze medallist whose only previous professional defeat came against Daniel Dubois, acknowledged Itauma’s superior start but said he had anticipated the Briton tiring.
“I saw his gassing out from the first round. He started fast. I knew he was going to gas out,” Hrgovic said after the fight.
“He is the best I have been in the ring with, but he needs more experience.”
Itauma had entered the bout with enormous expectations after rapidly destroying opposition since turning professional. But the step up against a durable and experienced heavyweight exposed the dangers of maintaining a punishing pace over the championship distance.
Promoter Frank Warren, however, insisted the defeat would not end Itauma’s rise and suggested the youngster may have been carrying a leg injury in the final round.
“Moses gave everything. He has to go back to the drawing board and he can come again,” Warren said.
For Itauma, the night that was expected to mark his coronation instead became the first major setback of his promising career.
Hrgovic summed up the changing fortunes bluntly: “I am the present. He is definitely the future.”
