Filip Hrgovic defeats Moses Itauma to claim vacant IBF heavyweight world title
Filip Hrgovic stopped Moses Itauma in the ninth round at London's O2 Arena to capture the vacant IBF heavyweight world title. The Croatian weathered Itauma's early pressure, then took control as the unbeaten 21‑year‑old British‑Nigerian faded, leading the referee to halt the bout at 2:27 of round nine.
The victory ends Itauma's perfect 14‑0 record (12 knockouts) and derails his ambition to become one of the youngest heavyweight champions in history. For Nigerian boxing fans, Itauma was a rising star of British‑Nigerian heritage; his loss is a major setback. Meanwhile, Hrgovic becomes the first Croatian boxer to win a heavyweight world title, a landmark for his country’s sport.
Itauma had previously stopped former title challenger Dillian Whyte in the first round, showing his power, but Hrgovic's experience and persistence proved decisive. What does this mean for Itauma's future—will he seek an immediate rematch, rebuild through lower‑ranked bouts, or reconsider his path to a title? Nigerian fans will be watching how he responds to this defeat.