Filip Hrgovic: Moses Itauma 'amazing' but boxed 'like an amateur' in thrilling heavyweight fight at The O2
Filip Hrgovic secured one of the biggest shocks in boxing this year after stopping an exhausted Moses Itauma in the ninth round at The O2; Hrgovic becomes Croatia's first-ever world heavyweight champion
Sunday 30 August 2026 08:51, UK
Filip Hrgovic praised Moses Itauma after his shock ninth-round stoppage but said his opponent had boxed “like an amateur”.
Hrgovic became Croatia's first world heavyweight champion at The O2 on Saturday night to win the vacant IBF heavyweight title.
Itauma, who was unbeaten coming into the bout, was dominant in the first six rounds after landing a string of accurate blows.
But he became visibly exhausted as the fight progressed and he failed to find a way past Hrgovic's durable chin, with the seventh round being the first time in his career he had been past six rounds.
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The Croatian then pounced in the ninth round, which forced the Brit's corner to throw in the towel.
Following his win, Hrgovic hailed Itauma as the most talented fighter in the heavyweight division but said his boxing reminded him of the amateur ranks.
'I saw he was gassing'
Hrgovic said: "Let me be honest, he's amazing. I didn't know it was going to be so hard, I thought I was going to handle him easier.
"I was losing all the rounds. The kid is amazing, he was so fast, you don't see his punches coming.
"He doesn't hit so hard but he's fast. But since the first (round) I saw he was gassing out, he was boxing still like an amateur.
"He's inexperienced, I saw he was gassing out and I knew my only chance was to stay there to make him tired, to keep coming and to maybe stop him later on. That's what I did.
"I came to London, his hometown, against the most talented guy in the division and I beat all the odds.
"I want to be considered the best heavyweight in the world, and this is my time. I am the best. I am the present and he is the future.
"I want to fight for unification against Dubois or Agit Kabayel. I want to go for unification, that's what I want."
Itauma came into the fight lauded as one of the sport's brightest young talents after some early knockout wins.
But he will have to work on pacing himself for fights that go beyond the halfway point against durable opponents like Hrgovic.
