Hrgovic stops Itauma: Moses Itauma’s bid for a maiden heavyweight world title ended in a dramatic ninth round stoppage defeat to Filip Hrgovic on Saturday.
A vicious left hand floored Hrgovic in the second round, but he roared back to halt an exhausted Itauma, whose trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel.
Itauma was looking to become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson and appeared on course for an early finish.
The 21-year-old, who pushed his rival at the weigh in before getting slapped himself, overwhelmed the visitor with explosive combinations from the outset. Hrgovic touched the canvas in the second round following a vicious left hand.
However, the Croatian responded in the third, connecting with a left and right which caught the Brit’s attention.
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How Hrgovic stops Itauma: Round-by-Round breakdown
Hrgovic had only been beaten once in his career to Daniel Dubois and Itauma forced him to take major punishment in the fourth round, but this fight would ultimately end with Hrgovic stopping Itauma
The 34-year-old was defiant amid the onslaught. An uppercut at the end of the fifth round jolted Hrgovic’s head back. Once again, he shook it off.
The pair had violent exchanges in the sixth and seventh rounds. Itauma appeared to be running on empty. Hrgovic continued to stand strong, despite shipping numerous combinations.
Itauma went for broke in the eighth, but was unable to break his rival and the exhausted Kent man stumbled back to his corner, setting up the finish that saw Hrgovic get the stoppage over Itauma moments later
Hrgovic sensed it and piled on the pressure in the ninth. Itauma desperately swung for a knockout, but was unable to contain his rival.
Itauma stoppage defeat: Itauma was stumbling into the ropes. A right hand finally ended his resistance, and Ben Davison threw in the towel.
Hrgovic became the first Croatian heavyweight world champion, securing the IBF title.
Itauma suffered a first professional defeat and was worryingly stretchered out of the arena.
Chief Support
In the chief support bout on the night Itauma stopped Hrgovic, Sam Noakes put on a dominant display to defeat former world champion, Denys Berinchyk.
Berinchyk battled hard, but Noakes freshness proved pivotal in a unanimous decision win. The judges scored it 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 to keep Noakes on course for a second shot at a world title.
Nelson Hysa, 41, extended his unbeaten record at heavyweight. The Albanian blasted out Thomas Narmo in the second round to retain his WBO Global heavyweight title.
Constantin Ursu retained his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles. He stopped Ben Vaughan in the eighth round. The ringside doctor stopped the fight after Vaughan suffered a severe cut over his right eye”
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Opening the Itauma vs Hrgovic main card, heavyweights Guido Vianello and Moses Jolly were held to a draw.
There were points victories for cruiserweight Aloys Junior and also for super flyweight Tony Curtis.
Finally, super bantamweight prospects, Zayn Ahmed and Hassan Ishaq were both victorious in their respective contests.
