Boxing’s heavyweight landscape flipped on Saturday night. Filip Hrgovic, the underdog most had counted out, stormed back from an early knockdown to stop the heavy favorite Moses Itauma in Round 9 and claim the vacant IBF world heavyweight title at London’s O2 Arena.
How the fight turned
Itauma, 21, the home favorite, flew out of his corner and briefly dropped Hrgovic to the canvas in Round 2 with his speed and power. But Hrgovic, known for his punch resilience, absorbed everything his younger rival threw at him. By the fourth round both men had slowed, and though Itauma kept pressing forward, he could not hurt the Croatian.
The fight turned in the late rounds. Itauma emptied his gas tank going for the finish in Round 8, and by the start of the ninth he was swaying on his feet. Hrgovic pounced, cornered him against the ropes and let his hands go, and with the 21-year-old unable to keep his guard up, trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel.
Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion
The stoppage made Hrgovic, an Olympic bronze medalist from Rio 2016, the first Croatian heavyweight world champion. His only previous loss had come against Daniel Dubois, whose move up the ranks had left the belt vacant.
After the bout, Hrgovic praised his rival: “He’s an amazing fighter. I want to thank him for accepting this fight, to give me a chance to become a new superstar in the heavyweight division. I’m the present, and he’s definitely the future.” Itauma left the O2 on a stretcher and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
The fight at a glance
| Stakes | Vacant IBF world heavyweight title |
| Winner | Filip Hrgovic (Croatia) |
| Result | Round 9 TKO, corner stoppage |
| Date | August 29, 2026 |
| Venue | The O2 Arena, London |
| Pre-fight favorite | Moses Itauma, 21, home favorite |
Why it matters
The result shakes up the heavyweight picture, handing the division another champion with real pedigree and a ready-made story arc after his only career loss to Daniel Dubois. Boxing remains one of the Philippines’ most-watched sports, from ASTIG’s coverage of the year’s biggest fights to the Pacquiao-era legacy that still drives local interest in the sweet science.
