Hrgovic vs Itauma: A Humbling At The O2

The coronation of Moses Itauma as boxing’s next heavyweight super star seemed a foregone conclusion. But in an absorbing tussle between youth and experience at London’s 02 Arena on Saturday night, Croatian Filip Hrgovic ripped up the script and reminded us just why the fight game has the power to shock and awe like no other sport.

Such was the hype around Itauma’s talent, oddsmakers listed the Croatian’s chances of victory on a par with YouTuber Jake Paul against former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. Considering Hrgovic’s experience, these odds seemed to vastly underestimate the visitor’s credentials, and so it proved.

Unlike YouTuber Paul, or indeed anyone Itauma had faced in his short career, Hrgovic’s résumé included a deep amateur pedigree culminating in an Olympic Bronze Medal, along with several years mixing in the upper echelons of the heavyweight ranks as a professional. A 2024 stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois stood as the lone blemish on his record, yet even this result on paper was misleading: Hrgovic had boxed competitively despite going into the fight weakened by illness, and was only stopped on the doctor’s advice due to nasty cuts above both eyes.

Hrgovic’s relaxed demeanour oozed confidence throughout the build-up, and his trim physique, entering at his lowest weight for seven years, provided further indicators that he was definitely not coming to lie down. In contrast, Itauma exhibited some signs the pressure might be getting to him. After exchanging words at the customary weigh-in face-off, Itauma pushed him from behind off the stage – a petulant act that could easily have put the whole event in jeopardy, had Hrgovic fallen awkwardly and twisted an ankle. Luckily, no physical harm was done, and psychologically the Croatian came out on top when clambering back on stage to land a defiant slap to the Brit’s face.

Of course, it’s easy to read too much into the pre-fight psychological jousting with the benefit of hindsight. The fact is, very few were predicting the younger man’s downfall, and for good reason. For years, stories have circulated of a 15-year-old Itauma rocking up at London gyms in his school uniform to spar world-class professionals; a host of boxers, trainers, and respected fight figures attested to his prodigious skillset, the overwhelming consensus being that he was a star-in-waiting. Meanwhile, he looked phenomenal in amassing a 14-0 (12 KOs) record, with eleven wins coming in the first two rounds. Outlandish comparisons with young versions of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson were not uncommon.

And, for the first few rounds, he showed exactly why he was so highly regarded, dominating behind fast, precise punching and sharp combos. A quick counter right hook in round two forced Hrgovic to touch down, and it looked like the writing was on the wall. Demonstrating fantastic punch variety and shot selection, it seemed Itauma couldn’t miss, changing levels to land crisp southpaw lefts to head and body. At the end of the fifth, Itauma slipped and rolled to the side, uncorking a peach of an uppercut bang on the chin, just as the bell sounded. The shot would have rendered most heavyweights unconscious, yet incredibly, Hrgovic barely budged.

By the halfway point, it was difficult to make a case for Hrgovic winning a single session. But although he wasn’t winning rounds, the Croat was still there, absorbing everything Itauma threw at him. When a fighter is so used to people wilting under such pressure, how does he deal with an opponent who gets up, walks through his best shots and, worse, keeps firing back? The temptation is to keep slinging more heavy artillery until the breakthrough comes. The danger with such a strategy, though, is that it requires an unsustainable output over twelve rounds if the opponent doesn’t fall. And this is where experience proved decisive.

By the eighth, Itauma began to visibly lose form and gasp for air, but still seemed intent on scoring a KO with every shot, which only served to hasten his demise. Landing with ever increasing regularity, Hrgovic surged in energy and confidence, as Itauma’s pre-fight boasts came back to haunt him. During a now infamous exchange on DAZN’s promotional “Face-Off”, the two went back-and-forth over the merits of being able to take a punch.

Itauma: “I don’t know why you’ve been praised to have a good chin. That’s not something you should be praised for. I get so much hate because people [are] saying I ain’t been hit on the chin. Ain’t that a good thing?”

Hrgovic: “[A good] chin is the most important thing in boxing, man. Without [a] good chin you can’t be great… you’ll get hit at some point.”

Itauma: “I’ll hit you before you hit me.”

Hrgovic: “Okay, so what if I don’t react?”

Deep in the heat of battle, the two contrasting figures illustrated Hrgovic’s point perfectly. Having taken everything on the chin and refusing to wilt, the Croatian, smelling blood, stood eagerly before the bell to start the ninth; Itauma, legs rubbery and face grimacing from exhaustion, dragged himself wearily off his stool and seemed suddenly to be wearing boots made of concrete, the collapse of his energy reserves all but inevitable.

Lacking any semblance of balance or coordination, the young contender showed courage as he tried to stave off the incoming assault, searching for a fight-ending blow even as he could barely support the weight of his own frame, almost toppling as he swung wildly. With Hrgovic pouring on the pressure and Itauma glued to the floor against the ropes, trainer Ben Davison began climbing the ring steps to signal surrender, just as referee Howard Foster reached the same conclusion and rescued a completely spent Itauma from needless further punishment.

In the wake of such a devastating defeat, questions will no doubt be raised about whether Itauma was ever really that good, or whether he can rebuild from it. He was, and he can. A much needed rest will be accompanied by some serious soul-searching, but at just 21 years old, he has time on his side. Though he will not now become the second-youngest heavyweight to win a belt, he still has the potential to one day become a champion – perhaps even a great one. Only time will tell whether he can heed the lessons of his defeat and grow into a better fighter, but there are plenty of precedents available.

British fans will remember that David Haye suffered a similarly crushing defeat to Carl Thompson, the highly touted prospect also coming unstuck the first time he was faced with a wily, resilient and more experienced opponent. Nevertheless, Haye regrouped to fulfill his early-career promise, becoming a cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion. And let’s not forget Wladimir Klitschko: the Ukrainian lost his undefeated record when gassing out against journeyman Ross Puritty, and was stopped again six years later when his energy suddenly evaporated against Lamon Brewster. Yet Wladimir not only recaptured the championship, he went on to establish himself as the best heavyweight of his generation.

Hrgovic himself was in no doubt over the legitimacy of Itauma’s skillset. Offering the younger man his “props” in the post-fight interview, the victor acknowledged he was losing every round in his toughest ever fight.

“Let me ask my young friend something: Isn’t [a good] chin important?” quipped Hrgovic, referring back to their earlier discussion, before graciously calling Itauma an amazing fighter. “I am the present, and he is definitely the future,” predicted the new champ. “He is the best I [have] been in the ring with. But he needs more experience.”

And what a well-deserved win it was. The first ever Croatian heavyweight champion is a class act and spoke emotionally of the trials and tribulations he overcame in dedicating twenty years of his life to the sport, “against all odds, coming [to] London, against the most talented guy in the world, a killer southpaw, new Mike Tyson [they called] him.” Holding back tears, he described almost giving up during the lowest points, following the defeat to Dubois and the sorrow of losing his father. But he persevered and now, at 34, finally sits on a title perch amongst a renewed heavyweight landscape. With lineal king Oleksandr Usyk vacating his belts to step aside for one more farewell fight, and with former champs Tyson Fury and AJ out of the picture as they negotiate endlessly over their retirement-fund match, the division looks lively again.

Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley were ringside and faced off to announce their WBO rematch in October. Hrgovic would surely love a chance to gain revenge for his lone defeat by unifying with Dubois. Agit Kabayel, the newly elevated WBC champ, was also present, warmly congratulating Hrgovic and offering his willingness to unify. Hrgovic must first take care of a mandatory obligation against Frank Sanchez, who took step aside money to allow Saturday’s contest for Usyk’s vacated IBF belt. Assuming that goes ahead, he would then be in line for some exciting clashes and well-earned paydays in the next year.

If nothing else, Hrgovic’s compelling come-from-behind victory just goes to prove that in heavyweight boxing, there is no such thing as a certainty. Ultimately, all the talent in the world can get you so far, but there really is no substitute for experience under those bright lights. Muhammed Ali famously said that a great boxer must have the skill and the will, but that the will must be greater. On this night, the granite chin and indomitable will to win of Filip Hrgovic were simply too much for the youth and skill of Moses Itauma.             — Matt O’Brien