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Filip Hrgovic Stops Moses Itauma to Win IBF Title

9/1/2026

27 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Hrgovic Claims Title

Filip Hrgovic stopped Moses Itauma in round nine to win the IBF heavyweight title at London’s O2 Arena.
Hrgovic survived an early knockdown before rallying to secure the stoppage.
The win made Hrgovic Croatia’s first world heavyweight champion.
He targets a unification bout with Agit Kabayel, pending a mandatory fight against Frank Sanchez.

Summary

Itauma Rebuilding

Itauma was carried on a stretcher to hospital and discharged early Sunday.
Promoter Frank Warren said the next months will test Itauma’s rebuilding after the defeat.
Trainer Ben Davison’s corner was criticized for failing to manage Itauma’s stamina in rounds.
Itauma admitted he had not sparred a full twelve-round session before the title fight.
Tyson Fury said setbacks happen, citing boxer Daniel Dubois’s recovery as a similar path to success.

History

Historical Context

On 14 December 1992 the WBC awarded Lennox Lewis its heavyweight crown after Riddick Bowe discarded the belt, making Lewis the first British-born world champion and prompting three title defenses and a wave of British unification talks. That breakthrough pattern resurfaced in 2024 when Filip Hrgovic won the O2 Arena bout, becoming Croatia’s inaugural heavyweight champion and reviving local boxing enthusiasm.

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Hrgovic Claims Title

Filip Hrgovic stopped Moses Itauma in round nine to win the IBF heavyweight title at London’s O2 Arena.
Hrgovic survived an early knockdown before rallying to secure the stoppage.
The win made Hrgovic Croatia’s first world heavyweight champion.
He targets a unification bout with Agit Kabayel, pending a mandatory fight against Frank Sanchez.

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