Filip Hrgovic absorbed blow after blow before stopping Moses Itauma in the ninth round to hand the 21-year-old British boxer his first loss and take the vacant IBF heavyweight world title on Saturday.
Itauma’s corner threw in the towel as he was being pummelled against the ropes, making the 34-year-old Hrgovic the first Croatian heavyweight champion.
Itauma had never needed to go past the sixth round in his first 14 professional bouts and tired visibly after taking command of the early rounds, with Hrgovic absorbing a barrage of hits even after being knocked down in the second round.
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