Croatian boxer Filip Hrgovic scored a resounding victory over England's Moses Itauma to claim the world heavyweight title of the International Boxing Federation (IBF), reports infohub.kz.
The bout, which headlined a tournament in London, was for the vacant belt that Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk vacated in June. The rivals entered the ring to determine the new holder of the prestigious title in the weight class over 90.7 kg.
The fight was scheduled for 12 rounds but ended early. In the second round, Itauma sent Hrgovic to the canvas, but the Croatian managed to get up and turn the tide. In the ninth round, as Hrgovic launched a decisive attack and the Englishman resorted to passive defense, the referee stopped the fight, ruling a knockout. At the same time, Itauma's corner threw in the towel, signaling their refusal to continue.
For the 34-year-old Hrgovic, this victory was his fourth in a row. Overall, he has 21 wins (16 by knockout) and one early loss to Britain's Daniel Dubois. Itauma, who is only 21, suffered the first defeat of his career. He remains with 14 wins, 12 of them early.