Filip Hrgovic secured a significant upset victory over Moses Itauma, stopping the previously undefeated British boxer in the ninth round to claim the vacant IBF world heavyweight title. The fight, held on August 29, 2026, saw Itauma suffer his first professional loss.
Itauma, 21, had largely controlled the bout until a decisive ninth-round onslaught from Hrgovic. The corner for Itauma threw in the towel, and the fighter required medical attention before being taken from the arena on a stretcher. This marked Itauma's first defeat after an impressive start to his career, which included 14 wins, 12 by knockout.
Hrgovic, who endured heavy punches throughout the fight, is now set to face Frank Sanchez next. He also expressed interest in a longer-term unification bout with WBA title holder Agit Kabayel.
During the fight, Itauma had shown resilience and power, scoring a flash knockdown in the second round. However, going beyond the sixth round for the first time in his professional career seemed to take a toll on his energy levels. The scorecard indicated a closely contested fight, with Hrgovic surviving a significant onslaught in the eighth round before securing the stoppage in the ninth.
