Round-by-Round: Moses Itauma vs. Filip Hrgovic - 29 August 2026

[Controversial]

Always a chance of something kicking off at the boxing

You can see the crowd pre occupied with something in the crowd and it was pretty obvious at the start of the 5th

Having finally watched the fight back in full, yeah definitely at the start of 5th when the crowd noise changes and even ringside observers can be seen looking up to their rights. Proper cowboy saloon stuff

The amount of grinning blokes who instinctively grabbed their cameraphones and were filming it, I'm sure it'll be on line somewhere. It's part of any night like that there will be idiots who can't enjoy themselves, but during the main event?!

Morons.

It is online, a father and son apparently who were taking other peoples seats to get a better view and it ended up in a fight

[Cyclops]

Always a chance of something kicking off at the boxing

You can see the crowd pre occupied with something in the crowd and it was pretty obvious at the start of the 5th

Having finally watched the fight back in full, yeah definitely at the start of 5th when the crowd noise changes and even ringside observers can be seen looking up to their rights. Proper cowboy saloon stuff

The amount of grinning blokes who instinctively grabbed their cameraphones and were filming it, I'm sure it'll be on line somewhere. It's part of any night like that there will be idiots who can't enjoy themselves, but during the main event?!

Morons.

It is online, a father and son apparently who were taking other peoples seats to get a better view and it ended up in a fight

Found it. Yep that's them. The video doing the rounds starts somewhere in the middle of everything because security are already there and there was a guy with a face already swelling up that I could see who you can't from that angle, so that's the second wave of carnage!

[SeanBrennan]

So crass fighting at the boxing, just watch the fight, utterly moronic

[Taansend]

Just watched the fight again for the 1st time.

One thing I was thinking during the fight & thought again now is that some of Moses's movements reminded me of Emanuel Augustus when he was clowning. The exaggerated movements, high knee lifts & jerky uppercuts.

Not in the early rounds but after round 4.

The other is that it was not a terrible performance by Foster, who I still think stopped Froch Groves too early

[KiwiRider]

On a second watch I noticed Hrg had a little more success than I first noticed. Subtle counters, Moses was pretty wide open when he was attacking which was obvious from his fight with Franklin (as well as gassing early).
So a few things to work on.
Really good work from Abel Sanchez, no wonder he was so pleased after the fight- perfect game plan execution.

[hhaehre]

On a second watch I noticed Hrg had a little more success than I first noticed. Subtle counters, Moses was pretty wide open when he was attacking which was obvious from his fight with Franklin (as well as gassing early).
So a few things to work on.
Really good work from Abel Sanchez, no wonder he was so pleased after the fight- perfect game plan execution.

One thing Hrg did was to move forward every time Itauma tried to rest. This became apparent after the 3rd round or so. Even if Hrg didn't really throw much he did manage to get Itauma to continue a pace he couldn't sustain by just stepping to him. Itauma had no other answer than to throw punches, he was unable to rest when Hrg moved forward.

[jameswilson]

Just watched the fight again for the 1st time.

One thing I was thinking during the fight & thought again now is that some of Moses's movements reminded me of Emanuel Augustus when he was clowning. The exaggerated movements, high knee lifts & jerky uppercuts.

Not in the early rounds but after round 4.

The other is that it was not a terrible performance by Foster, who I still think stopped Froch Groves too early

I thought Foster did a textbook job here. Given he gets stick for when he has jumped in too soon in fights, I think it's fair to say good job on what was a very tough fight to referee.

[Riddick Bowie]

Just watched the fight again for the 1st time.

One thing I was thinking during the fight & thought again now is that some of Moses's movements reminded me of Emanuel Augustus when he was clowning. The exaggerated movements, high knee lifts & jerky uppercuts.

Not in the early rounds but after round 4.

The other is that it was not a terrible performance by Foster, who I still think stopped Froch Groves too early

I thought Foster did a textbook job here. Given he gets stick for when he has jumped in too soon in fights, I think it's fair to say good job on what was a very tough fight to referee.

Hold your horses, gents.

Of course Foster didn't jump in early. Moses is the A Side, Hrg the B Side. The B Side was never in a position to be waved off. As always, the A Side was given every chance. It's the B Side who is never given a chance.

Froch was the A Side and dropped heavily. Allowed to continue. Groves, the B Side, went down, Foster doesn't allow him to continue. That's the double standard with modern British refereeing. Foster isn't the only one of course, but the whole thing stinks. It offends the traditional English sense of fair play.

We used to look down on countries like Germany and Italy because their referees and judges were corrupt. Frank Bruno and Gary Mason are the earliest examples I can remember where our referees began to demonstrate clear favouritism. Watt/O'Grady was incongruous for the time and plausibly an error.

[forcefraser]

Foster had little option but to stop Moses after he went all wobbly. Last time an A side went all wobbly was Wardley and he got massive stick for not stopping that

When the B side is winning Foster turns into a Kazakh no death no glory ref

It's when the B side dips a knee after a punch that we have a problem

Not seen him carry an A side back to the corner yet like O'connor did with Cleverly, unless we can count that disgraceful effort of his in Warrington v Lara 1 during Covid

[golden_labrador]

On a second watch I noticed Hrg had a little more success than I first noticed. Subtle counters, Moses was pretty wide open when he was attacking which was obvious from his fight with Franklin (as well as gassing early).
So a few things to work on.
Really good work from Abel Sanchez, no wonder he was so pleased after the fight- perfect game plan execution.

One thing Hrg did was to move forward every time Itauma tried to rest. This became apparent after the 3rd round or so. Even if Hrg didn't really throw much he did manage to get Itauma to continue a pace he couldn't sustain by just stepping to him. Itauma had no other answer than to throw punches, he was unable to rest when Hrg moved forward.

as much as I hate hugging, this could be time for Moses to hug opponents

[Ruthless-RKO]

ITAUMA WANTS HRGOVIC REMATCH BUT WARREN CALLS FOR PATIENCE

Promoter allegedly has urged Moses Itauma to "switch off from boxing" after the 21-year-old asked for an immediate rematch with Filip Hrgovic.

Itauma (14-1, 12 KOs) dominated Hrgovic (21-1, 16 KOs) for eight rounds on Saturday before punching himself out and losing by stoppage in the ninth round of their IBF heavyweight title fight at O2 Arena in London.

Itauma had to be carried out of the arena on a stretcher before being sent to the hospital. The Kent puncher was discharged in the early hours of Sunday morning and vowed to box on in a video uploaded to social media later that day.

Warren now says Itauma has already asked for a rematch with Hrgovic, who is likely to face mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez next.

"He's saying to me, 'Can we get the rematch on?' which is a natural reaction," Warren told talkSPORT.

"But I told him, 'You have got to switch off from boxing, go and chill out and spend some time with your family and come back, recharge your batteries and then we get to work again.

"'The landscape is what it is; you are a big part of it. You have shown you belong at that level.'"

"Provided he learns the lessons from the fight, I think he can go on and do great things. I would like to see him in at least one, maybe two fights and see where we go before we go [back to that level].

"We've got to sit down with the whole team and discuss this. His manager is my son Francis, and all of us will get together to look at it."

Itauma looked blistering in the opening round and dropped Hrgovic in the second with a counter right-hook. He continued to land at will throughout and notably connected with a howitzer of an uppercut in the fifth round.

However, Croatian Hrgovic stood up to all the punishment and at the end of the eighth, after Itauma put all his effort into trying to take his opponent out, it became clear the Brit was in trouble.

Warren, who has been promoting for 46 years, could see the end for Itauma was nigh.

"I've been around the game long enough; I knew on the night what was going to happen," Warren said. "I was sat next to his brother, and after the seventh he looked like he was puffing a bit and then in the eighth round he came out with a big round.

"I said, 'He's going to punch himself out.' I could see what was going to happen. He had his foot stuck down on overdrive, and that was it. I believe 98 per cent of the heavyweight fighters would have got stopped on Saturday by the punches he was throwing.

"And I said to him only recently, 'There will come a time when you come against someone who can take a shot, and you'll have to get to plan B.'

"That's what happened on the night, and it's happened to so many fighters over the years, especially big-punching fighters.

"But with him, he put so much into it that he didn't have the strength to box. If he could have boxed the last few rounds, maybe he would have got through that because he was miles ahead on points.

"The only way Filip could have won was to knock him over, which is what he did at the end of the day."

[stujones]

It is such a weird end to the fight. I don't think I have ever seen a fighter - that "gone" in his legs, without it seemingly being from a head shot, but still producing shots that was causing Hrgovic's head to spray. He certainly wasn't through Arm weary shots? It was most bizarre and makes you think that either 1) There was a head shot that caused his legs to go, or it was some kind of leg injury 2) He has a real issue with stamina that might be always an issue.

When Bruno / Joshua tire you can see it all elements of their game - they start throwing slower ARRRMMM punches, drop their guard, want to cling. With Moses, it was more just about the legs and that was weird - although in saying this, Hrgovic was also pretty exhausted so was probably slightly letting Moses off so he could gather enough to throw a bomb.

[hhaehre]

It is such a weird end to the fight. I don't think I have ever seen a fighter - that "gone" in his legs, without it seemingly being from a head shot, but still producing shots that was causing Hrgovic's head to spray. He certainly wasn't through Arm weary shots? It was most bizarre and makes you think that either 1) There was a head shot that caused his legs to go, or it was some kind of leg injury 2) He has a real issue with stamina that might be always an issue.

When Bruno / Joshua tire you can see it all elements of their game - they start throwing slower ARRRMMM punches, drop their guard, want to cling. With Moses, it was more just about the legs and that was weird - although in saying this, Hrgovic was also pretty exhausted so was probably slightly letting Moses off so he could gather enough to throw a bomb.

Not much on those punches Itauma threw in that last round. All the snap was gone and he's not heavy handed like Foreman or Lewis.

[PRINCEKOOL]

I have not been one of the individuals within the boxing community who has got carried away with Moses Itauma 'you quite simply cannot rate a fighter at world level until? They have genuinely fought at that level'.

But I have stated in the past? That Moses Itauma looks to be a front runner 'that has really been my only assessment of his thus-far in his career until tonight'.

Note: I am not going to bash Moses Itauma while he is down 'he has obviously suffered quite a brutal loss last night, at a stage in his career when true great fighters excel. At least Itauma has no identified where he needs to improve'.

I think tonight puts a lot of things in perspective 'Great fighters have the ability to win defining fights. Both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have won defining fights, Fury did it vs. Wladimir Kitschko and Joshua did it in the Olympics and then vs. Wladimir Kiltschko in the professional ranks'.

If you want to be a great fighter 'you have to perform during those defining moments. At some point in your career, the facts are? The very first time Moses Itauma has been put in that sort of situation he has lost and in brutal fashion'.

I think a lot of British boxing fans 'and even people in the media, were disrespecting both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Neither of those fighters has retired, and we know for sure in the case of Anthony Joshua? That he has ambitions to become a 3 times World Heavyweight Champion'.

Congratulations to Filip Hrgovic 'great fight and performance. Moses fought hard and gallantly, but he lost NOW he is in the fight game. There is No Easy Way Out' etc.

Very good post.

Cheers, thanks.

[keithmoonhangover]

Just watched it back. I noticed Hrgovic landing some great body shots, especially in the last two rounds. A lot of people (including me) questioning Itauma's stamina, but those body shots did some serious damage, even the last punch of the fight was a hard shot into Itauma's bread basket.

[rd350lc]

Just watched it back. I noticed Hrgovic landing some great body shots, especially in the last two rounds. A lot of people (including me) questioning Itauma's stamina, but those body shots did some serious damage, even the last punch of the fight was a hard shot into Itauma's bread basket.

Been telling all the bloody idiots on YouTube that insisted Ituama beat himself that Fil caught him with some great shots from round 3 onwards but I think they can't get passed the biased commentary that's blinkered them.

[Kilburn]

If someone like David Adeleye, as knackered as he was, can get to the end of a fight with Hrgovic then I think it’s a given that there is something severely lacking with Itauma’s fitness.

I’m sure whatever shots Moses had to take didn’t help, but as it turned out the writing was already on the wall in reality.

[KiwiRider]

Just watched it back. I noticed Hrgovic landing some great body shots, especially in the last two rounds. A lot of people (including me) questioning Itauma's stamina, but those body shots did some serious damage, even the last punch of the fight was a hard shot into Itauma's bread basket.

Been telling all the bloody idiots on YouTube that insisted Ituama beat himself that Fil caught him with some great shots from round 3 onwards but I think they can't get passed the biased commentary that's blinkered them.

I noticed that too, but more on a second watch. There were really nice counters during Itauma's attacks from R3 throughout. Hrg also kept the pressure on, made Itauma work. It was a game plan and Able Sanchez was a very happy man afterwards.

[Frostieballs]

There are a few myths about this fight.

One is that Itauma was completely dominant until the 9th. He won the rounds sure, but from around the 4th it was clear it was going to be a tougher assignment than expected. The biased commentary is partly to blame for this.

Another is that Itauma was constantly flat out, when he clealry fought at a slower pace in a couple of rounds.

I also don’t think the comparison with Haye-Thompson is that valid. You could tell Haye could come back and overcome that setback. And it wasn’t a complete shock; people had always raised doubts about Hayes chin.

Whereas Hrg may have taken Itauma’s soul.

Whilst the circumstances were different, this is more of a Ryan Rhodes against Jason Matthew’s defeat for me.

Not saying is Moses is done, but he will have to be very strong minded now he knows he isn’t invincible and maybe doesn’t punch as hard as he thought.

[coneye]

There are a few myths about this fight.

One is that Itauma was completely dominant until the 9th. He won the rounds sure, but from around the 4th it was clear it was going to be a tougher assignment than expected. The biased commentary is partly to blame for this.

Another is that Itauma was constantly flat out, when he clealry fought at a slower pace in a couple of rounds.

I also don’t think the comparison with Haye-Thompson is that valid. You could tell Haye could come back and overcome that setback. And it wasn’t a complete shock; people had always raised doubts about Hayes chin.

Whereas Hrg may have taken Itauma’s soul.

Whilst the circumstances were different, this is more of a Ryan Rhodes against Jason Matthew’s defeat for me.

Not saying is Moses is done, but he will have to be very strong minded now he knows he isn’t invincible and maybe doesn’t punch as hard as he thought.

Think it all depends what he does from here , who he trains with , IF he goes and trains with a proper coach , at the end of the session sits down , after he catches his breath , says to that coach , Fook me i;ve never worked has hard in my life , THAT WAS GREAT .. Then theres an easy way back for him .

If he does'nt have the nouce to do that then its gonna be same old same old , Persnaly i think Frank is gonna have a bit to say about this behind closed doors ,He will move

[gilgamesh]

Just watched it back. I noticed Hrgovic landing some great body shots, especially in the last two rounds. A lot of people (including me) questioning Itauma's stamina, but those body shots did some serious damage, even the last punch of the fight was a hard shot into Itauma's bread basket.

Imagine what a problem Kabayel would be for a fighter with a stamina problem. Kabayel is about as consistent a body puncher as you'll see at Heavyweight. It seems like 50% of his attack is aimed at the body.

[Coco]

Just watched it back. I noticed Hrgovic landing some great body shots, especially in the last two rounds. A lot of people (including me) questioning Itauma's stamina, but those body shots did some serious damage, even the last punch of the fight was a hard shot into Itauma's bread basket.

Imagine what a problem Kabayel would be for a fighter with a stamina problem. Kabayel is about as consistent a body puncher as you'll see at Heavyweight. It seems like 50% of his attack is aimed at the body.

A great example is when he beat Zhang.

However not a lot of fighters would have been able to take what Moses gave out

[gilgamesh]

Just watched it back. I noticed Hrgovic landing some great body shots, especially in the last two rounds. A lot of people (including me) questioning Itauma's stamina, but those body shots did some serious damage, even the last punch of the fight was a hard shot into Itauma's bread basket.

Imagine what a problem Kabayel would be for a fighter with a stamina problem. Kabayel is about as consistent a body puncher as you'll see at Heavyweight. It seems like 50% of his attack is aimed at the body.

A great example is when he beat Zhang.

However not a lot of fighters would have been able to take what Moses gave out

And the bad thing is. He'll probably never fight like that ever again.

[gilgamesh]

ITAUMA WANTS HRGOVIC REMATCH BUT WARREN CALLS FOR PATIENCE

Promoter allegedly has urged Moses Itauma to "switch off from boxing" after the 21-year-old asked for an immediate rematch with Filip Hrgovic.

Itauma (14-1, 12 KOs) dominated Hrgovic (21-1, 16 KOs) for eight rounds on Saturday before punching himself out and losing by stoppage in the ninth round of their IBF heavyweight title fight at O2 Arena in London.

Itauma had to be carried out of the arena on a stretcher before being sent to the hospital. The Kent puncher was discharged in the early hours of Sunday morning and vowed to box on in a video uploaded to social media later that day.

Warren now says Itauma has already asked for a rematch with Hrgovic, who is likely to face mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez next.

"He's saying to me, 'Can we get the rematch on?' which is a natural reaction," Warren told talkSPORT.

"But I told him, 'You have got to switch off from boxing, go and chill out and spend some time with your family and come back, recharge your batteries and then we get to work again.

"'The landscape is what it is; you are a big part of it. You have shown you belong at that level.'"

"Provided he learns the lessons from the fight, I think he can go on and do great things. I would like to see him in at least one, maybe two fights and see where we go before we go [back to that level].

"We've got to sit down with the whole team and discuss this. His manager is my son Francis, and all of us will get together to look at it."

Itauma looked blistering in the opening round and dropped Hrgovic in the second with a counter right-hook. He continued to land at will throughout and notably connected with a howitzer of an uppercut in the fifth round.

However, Croatian Hrgovic stood up to all the punishment and at the end of the eighth, after Itauma put all his effort into trying to take his opponent out, it became clear the Brit was in trouble.

Warren, who has been promoting for 46 years, could see the end for Itauma was nigh.

"I've been around the game long enough; I knew on the night what was going to happen," Warren said. "I was sat next to his brother, and after the seventh he looked like he was puffing a bit and then in the eighth round he came out with a big round.

"I said, 'He's going to punch himself out.' I could see what was going to happen. He had his foot stuck down on overdrive, and that was it. I believe 98 per cent of the heavyweight fighters would have got stopped on Saturday by the punches he was throwing.

"And I said to him only recently, 'There will come a time when you come against someone who can take a shot, and you'll have to get to plan B.'

"That's what happened on the night, and it's happened to so many fighters over the years, especially big-punching fighters.

"But with him, he put so much into it that he didn't have the strength to box. If he could have boxed the last few rounds, maybe he would have got through that because he was miles ahead on points.

"The only way Filip could have won was to knock him over, which is what he did at the end of the day."

An immediate rematch is a bad idea. A rematch in about 2 or 3 years time is just what the Doctor ordered to get Moses back to where he was heading into this fight at least as far as self confidence goes.

He'd probably have to be Champ for a while to ever make people really believe in any hype around him again.

[KiwiRider]

Just watched it back. I noticed Hrgovic landing some great body shots, especially in the last two rounds. A lot of people (including me) questioning Itauma's stamina, but those body shots did some serious damage, even the last punch of the fight was a hard shot into Itauma's bread basket.

Imagine what a problem Kabayel would be for a fighter with a stamina problem. Kabayel is about as consistent a body puncher as you'll see at Heavyweight. It seems like 50% of his attack is aimed at the body.

Hence Uysk turned him down and no one is lining up even though he is supposed to get a title shot.