Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic has backed Nigerian-British boxer Moses Itauma to become a world champion despite handing the highly rated 21-year-old the first defeat of his professional career in their dramatic IBF heavyweight title fight at London’s O2 Arena.
Hrgovic produced one of the biggest comebacks in recent heavyweight boxing on Saturday night, recovering from a difficult start to stop Itauma in the ninth round and claim the vacant IBF heavyweight world title.
But despite celebrating the biggest victory of his career and becoming Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion, Hrgovic was quick to acknowledge the extraordinary talent of the young fighter he had just defeated.
“I’m the present, and he’s definitely the future,” Hrgovic said.
“He’s an amazing fighter. He’s one of a kind. He’s the best I’ve been in the ring with, but he needed more experience.”
Itauma entered the contest as one of the most highly regarded young heavyweights in the world, having won his first 14 professional fights, including 12 by knockout.
He also carried the enormous expectation of potentially becoming the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in boxing history, behind only Mike Tyson.
For much of the fight, it appeared that the history books were indeed waiting for him.
Itauma dominated the early rounds with his speed, movement and sharp combinations, even sending Hrgovic to the canvas with a second-round knockdown.
The Croatian admitted afterwards that he was losing the rounds but deliberately stayed in the fight, believing that his greater experience and ability to maintain his pace could eventually turn the contest around.
“I was losing every round. I was outboxed,” Hrgovic admitted.
“But I knew that I had that pace in my favour.”
The turning point arrived in the later rounds when Itauma began to tire visibly.
Hrgovic, who had never previously been stopped and had only one professional defeat before Saturday’s contest, continued to apply pressure as the younger fighter’s energy levels dropped.
“I felt the pace of the fight. I knew I was losing rounds, but I knew that I had that pace in my favour,” Hrgovic said.
“He was gassing out.”
By the ninth round, Itauma was struggling to defend himself effectively, prompting referee Howard Foster to intervene while Itauma’s corner also threw in the towel.
The defeat ended Itauma’s unbeaten professional record and his immediate dream of becoming the youngest heavyweight champion since Tyson. He was subsequently taken to hospital for precautionary checks but has since been discharged.
Hrgovic, however, does not believe the setback should define Itauma’s career.
Instead, the Croatian believes the experience could become an important lesson for a fighter who still has many years ahead of him.
“He needed more experience,” Hrgovic said.
The Croatian also suggested that Itauma’s approach to the fight reflected his limited experience at championship level, particularly when it came to managing his energy over a long contest.
The fight was the first time Itauma had gone beyond the sixth round in his professional career, while Hrgovic brought significantly more experience into the contest.
That difference eventually became decisive.
Hrgovic himself had endured disappointment earlier in his career, suffering his only previous defeat against Daniel Dubois in 2024 before rebuilding and eventually earning his world title opportunity.
Now the 34-year-old is the IBF heavyweight champion, but his comments about Itauma have ensured that the young fighter leaves the O2 Arena with his reputation largely intact.
Itauma has already vowed to learn from the defeat and return stronger, acknowledging that he made mistakes during the fight.
For Hrgovic, those lessons could ultimately make the Nigerian-British heavyweight even more dangerous.
The Croatian believes Itauma possesses the speed, talent and natural ability required to reach the summit of heavyweight boxing — but now needs the experience to match those gifts.
And after defeating one of the sport’s most exciting young prospects, Hrgovic delivered perhaps the most encouraging assessment Itauma could have received from an opponent.
“I’m the present, and he’s definitely the future.”
For Itauma, the world title dream has been delayed — but according to the man who just stopped him, it certainly has not been destroyed.
