Filip Hrgović wins IBF World Heavyweight title

Filip Hrgović is the new IBF World Heavyweight Champion! In the London arena, he defeated the 21-year-old British Mouzes Itauma. Although he was in a subordinate position during the match, in the ninth round he forced Itauma's trainer to throw in the towel with a series of devastating blows.

For the first time in history Croatia has a world champion in the heavyweight category. 10 years after winning an Olympic bronze medal, Filip Hrgović defeated Moses Itauma of the UK in London and won the belt intended for the IBF world champion. His victory came in the ninth round, after Itauma was the better fighter in the first six rounds. However Itauma was exhausted and after the match was stopped he was carried out of the ring on a stretcher. 

“I thought it was going to be easier, he's very fast. Honestly I've never been in the ring with someone like him, but he's inexperienced, he's throwing too much; he was fighting like an amateur. I knew I need to endure, I need to stay there, and he's going to get tired and I'll get him in the late rounds. God gave me some special energy at that moment. I was so tired and received so many shots, but it was some unnatural energy that I received from upstairs,” said Hrgović after the match.

34 year old Hrgović is the fourth world boxing champion from Croatia after Mate Parlov, Stipe Drviš and Ferdinand Živić. Besides an Olympic bronze he won a European gold medal in 2017. In his professional career he has until now entered the ring 22 times and had 21 wins. His only defeat was two years ago to Dubois from the UK. Hrgović also won a World Junior gold medal in 2010 while he also trained basketball and swimming in his youth.

 In his style after his victory over Itauma, he said that he doesn't want a welcome organized because he wants to be with his wife and their baby. He added that there will be other opportunities.

Congratulations to Hrgović are coming in from all sides, including the state leadership. 

"I congratulate Filip Hrgović on his great, actually sensational boxing success! Filip's victory is all the greater because he has outclassed his hitherto unbeatable opponent in terms of sport and, one might say, outclassed his boxing skills, and on his own turf," said President Zoran Milanović in his congratulatory message. 

"Your success is a source of pride for all of Croatia and another confirmation that even the greatest sporting dreams can be realized with dedicated work, confidence in one's own abilities and perseverance," reads the message from Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković. 

"Hrgović made history in London and became the first Croatian boxer to hold the IBF world champion title. Filip Hrgović's tenacity, character and strength marked a fight in which he defeated British boxer Moses Itauma," reads a post on the official X profile of the Government.

Source: HRT