On the night of August 29, 2026, 34-year-old Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic won the IBF world championship belt, overcoming 21-year-old Moses Ituma in a very tough bout. The decisive blow came in the ninth round: after a series of precise hits by Hrgovic, the Briton's corner threw in the white towel, acknowledging the futility of continuing the fight. For Hrgovic, this title was the logical culmination of his 22nd professional bout, while for Ituma it was the first defeat of his career, ending an impeccable streak.

Course of the Fight: Freshness vs. Experience

The fight started at a high pace: Ituma immediately bombarded Hrgovic with punches, relying on perfect footwork and physical freshness that, against a 34-year-old opponent, created serious problems. As early as the second round, the Croatian took a body shot and went down for a knockdown, though he quickly recovered and continued the fight. The third round showed that the outcome was not decided: Hrgovic seized the initiative and landed several precise hits on his opponent, while in the fourth period Ituma dominated again and inflicted a serious cut on the Croat.

The Turning Point in the Late Rounds

The fifth and sixth rounds were under the full control of the Briton: Hrgovic looked pale and seemed about to drop under the barrage of sharp punches. However, by the end of the sixth round the Croatian sensed his opponent's fatigue and battered Ituma with punches, nearly knocking him down. In the seventh round the Briton performed better for a stretch, but it was already clear that he had physically dropped and the freshness in his legs had vanished. In the eighth round Ituma chased Hrgovic around the ring and landed many precise punches, but at its end he dropped again, taking in a short span as much as he had for the entire fight.

Hrgovic's Reaction After the Fight

Sensing the moment, Hrgovic from the start of the ninth round continued what he had been doing at the end of the eighth. Ituma had visibly lost his strength and at some point stopped being able to stay on his feet, after which his team threw in the towel. Immediately after the fight the Croat admitted that he had tactically been counting on exactly the late rounds: "That wasn't me. That was Jesus Christ in me. I was losing every round, I was being out-boxed, and I don't know where I got the energy in that last round. It was the best camp of my life and my best corner in my life."

Outcomes and Prospects

For Moses Ituma this bout became his first professional defeat, while Filip Hrgovic cemented his status as the reigning IBF heavyweight champion. According to available information, the next contender for the belt could be Cuban Frank Sanchez, whose fight with Hrgovic is being considered a likely continuation of the title line. Thus, the Croatian heavyweight got the chance to immediately test his championship in a rematch or in a new title showdown.

Undercard: Berinchyk's Defeat

As part of the same boxing night, in the undercard of the main event, Ukrainian boxer Denis Berinchyk suffered a defeat in his fight with Sam Noakes. This result became a notable event for Ukrainian boxing against the backdrop of the night's main title fight, in which Hrgovic proved that experience and tactical endurance can outweigh an opponent's youth and physical power.