London, UK – In a thrilling display of grit and resilience, Filip Hrgovic has been crowned the new vacant IBF Heavyweight Champion, overcoming an early knockdown and a grueling eight rounds to ultimately stop the previously unbeaten Moses Itauma in the ninth round on Saturday night at The O2 Arena in Greenwich. This pivotal championship bout, presented by Queensberry Promotions and Vota Boxing, served as the main event on the "Natural Born Thriller" card, delivering a dramatic narrative that underscored the harsh realities of heavyweight boxing.
The fight’s defining lesson was evident from the early exchanges: Moses Itauma, a fighter whose rise has been meticulously managed, showcased blistering speed and formidable power in the opening rounds. His youthful exuberance and quick combinations appeared to overwhelm the Croatian contender. However, Itauma’s carefully curated professional record, marked by a string of early stoppages, had never truly tested him against a seasoned, durable heavyweight capable of absorbing punishment and pushing him into uncharted, grueling territory.
Hrgovic, now 21 wins against just one defeat (16 by knockout), solidified his status as Croatia’s first-ever heavyweight world champion. The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, known as "El Animal," weathered an early storm from the 14-1 (12 KOs) Itauma, who holds the WBO Intercontinental title. The critical moment came in the second round when Itauma, a southpaw, landed a crisp left hand that sent Hrgovic to the canvas. Referee Howard Foster administered the mandatory eight-count, but Hrgovic, demonstrating immense fortitude, rose to continue the fight.
Following the knockdown, Itauma seemingly seized control, utilizing his superior hand speed and sharp, accurate combinations. His effective body punching also began to take its toll, and he repeatedly beat Hrgovic to the punch, building what appeared to be a significant lead on the scorecards. Hrgovic, however, absorbed these heavy shots with remarkable stoicism, a testament to his own durability and the meticulous preparation undertaken by his team.
The tide began to turn as Itauma entered the later rounds, a domain he had yet to experience in his professional career. His once explosive movement began to wane, the sting left his punches, and his defensive structure, which had been relatively solid, started to fray. This shift in momentum opened the door for Hrgovic, who, under the guidance of trainer Abel Sanchez, had prepared for precisely this scenario.
Hrgovic attacked with renewed vigor from the opening bell of the ninth round. Midway through the round, a powerful right hand landed cleanly, visibly hurting the younger fighter. An exhausted Itauma struggled to stay on his feet, eventually stumbling into the corner. Recognizing his fighter’s predicament, trainer Ben Davison wisely threw in the towel, prompting referee Foster to officially halt the contest at 2:27 of the ninth round.
While Itauma had undoubtedly outboxed Hrgovic for significant portions of the fight, the Croatian champion’s unwavering resolve and his ability to endure and capitalize on his opponent’s fatigue proved to be the deciding factors. The early knockouts that had defined Itauma’s career offered no preview of how his body would respond to the sustained pressure and punishment from a fully developed heavyweight who refused to yield.
Following his hard-fought victory, Hrgovic attributed his comeback and newfound championship to his Christian faith. "It was not me tonight. It was Jesus Christ in me. Holy Spirit," he stated in a post-fight interview. He candidly admitted that Itauma had outboxed him for large stretches of the bout and expressed surprise at finding the energy for his decisive ninth-round surge. Hrgovic also extended his gratitude to trainer Abel Sanchez, manager Keith Connolly, and his entire team, proclaiming it to be the best training camp of his career.
Tragically, Itauma required medical attention and was stretchered from the ring after the fight, highlighting the brutal nature of the sport.
In the co-main event, Sam Noakes, 19-1 (16 KOs), secured the vacant WBO International lightweight title by unanimous decision over the resilient Denys Berinchyk, 19-2 (9 KOs). Berinchyk, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist, was returning after an 18-month layoff. Noakes outworked the Ukrainian through the early rounds, landing a significant right hand that stunned Berinchyk in the fifth. Despite Berinchyk finding some success in the eighth, Noakes regained control and finished strongly, earning scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92.
The welterweight division also saw action as Constantin Ursu, 16-0 (7 KOs), retained his British and Commonwealth titles against Ben Vaughan, 12-3 (4 KOs). The fight was stopped at 0:03 of the eighth round due to a cut over Vaughan’s right eye, which opened in the fifth following an accidental clash of heads. The injury worsened, leading the ringside doctor to deem Vaughan unfit to continue.
In a heavyweight encounter, Nelson Hysa, 25-0 (23 KOs), continued his impressive knockout streak by stopping Thomas Narmo, 14-1 (14 KOs), at 0:36 of the second round. A powerful lead right hand from Hysa sent Narmo to the canvas, and though he beat the count, referee Howard Foster wisely waved off the contest.
Other notable results from the stacked card included WBC Continental cruiserweight champion Aloys Youmbi, 12-1 (9 KOs), outpointing Sherif Musah, 4-2-1 (2 KOs), over six rounds; lightweight prospect Arbnor Jashari, 10-0 (3 KOs), defeating Numan Hussain, 8-2 (2 KOs), by unanimous decision; WBC Continental Americas heavyweight champion Guido Vianello, 14-3-2 (12 KOs), and late replacement Moses Jolly, 12-0-1 (8 KOs), fighting to an eight-round draw in a messy but competitive bout; super flyweight Tony Curtis Jr., 14-1 (3 KOs), narrowly defeating Imad Naseeb, 8-1 (2 KOs), by six-round decision; featherweight Frankie Wood, 5-0 (2 KOs), stopping Callum Lee, 8-1 (1 KOs), in the sixth round; middleweight Sam King, 7-0-1 (1 KOs), outpointing Jack Swallow, 4-13-1 (1 KOs); super featherweight Zayn Ahmed, 3-0 (1 KOs), stopping Liam Fitzmaurice, 0-19, in the second round; and super bantamweight Hassan Ishaq, 4-0 (3 KOs), securing a four-round decision over Enzo Munoz, 4-17-4 (2 KOs). Thomas Treiber served as the evening’s ring announcer.
