Arabic version: هرغوفيتش يوقف إيتاوما في الجولة التاسعة بمفاجأة في وزن الثقيل

According to BBC News, Filip Hrgovic stopped British heavyweight Moses Itauma in the ninth round at London’s O2 Arena, ending Itauma’s bid for the vacant IBF title.

Itauma, 21, controlled much of the contest and knocked Hrgovic down in the second round. But the Briton faded after a relentless output, allowing the Croatian to withstand the early pressure and turn the fight around.

Hrgovic increased the pressure in the ninth round as Itauma struggled to remain standing. With his legs unsteady and his body swaying before he slumped in the corner, Itauma’s team threw in the towel.

Itauma needed medical attention and left the arena on a stretcher. He had entered the fight as a heavy favourite after winning his first 14 professional opponents and had been discussed as a potential future heavyweight star.

A win would have made Itauma the second-youngest world heavyweight champion in history. Instead, Hrgovic, an Olympic bronze medallist whose only previous professional loss was to Daniel Dubois, secured a remarkable comeback victory.