Filip Hrgovic secured the IBF heavyweight world title on Saturday after stopping Moses Itauma in the ninth round. The victory marks a historic milestone for Croatian boxing, as Hrgovic becomes the first heavyweight world champion from his country.

The fight featured a dramatic shift in momentum. According to reports, Itauma dominated the early stages of the contest, utilizing his speed and combinations to control the pace. Itauma notably dropped Hrgovic in the second round, putting the Croatian challenger in a difficult position early on. However, the dynamics of the match shifted in the latter half of the fight as Itauma’s stamina appeared to decline.

Sources provide slightly different perspectives on the nature of the finish. While ESPN characterizes Hrgovic’s performance as a "courageous" effort that led to the stoppage, The Guardian emphasizes the physical toll taken on both fighters. The Guardian notes that Itauma was weaving from "woozy fatigue" in the later rounds, allowing Hrgovic to capitalize on his opponent's exhaustion with a display of resilience. The fight concluded in the ninth round when the referee stopped the contest, handing Hrgovic the title and ending Itauma’s bid to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history.