Chins do matter.
New Croatian-born IBF heavyweight world champion Filip Hrgovic proved this emphatically on Saturday night (29 July) in London when withstanding the onslaught of Moses Itauma over nine rounds to finally prevail.
Pre-fight, Hrgovic the new champion, had emphasised this point when responding to the press protestations and hype around Itauma’s rapid rise through the world rankings to challenge for the vacant title at a packed out O2 Arena on the banks of the River Thames. The 21-year-old from Chatham, Kent (via Slovakia) was perpetual motion throughout eight completed rounds, almost registering a complete shutout, but despite landing some bombs, and often repeatedly, he couldn’t make a concussive dent in the Croatian’s chin over that time.
Hrgovic touched down in the second round but that was the closest he came to showing any weakness.
The meteoric rise of Itauma (14-1, 12 KOs) from World Youth Champion to possibly be the second youngest heavyweight champion in professional boxing history (behind a 20-year-old Mike Tyson in 1986) was incredible. Sadly, for him and his team, he couldn’t finally get over the line on this occasion.
The young-Brit was rescued at 2:29 of round nine by the throwing in of the towel from Ben Davison his trainer in a compassionate attempt to halt proceedings as Itauma was swaying defenceless on the ropes, completely exhausted, and waiting for the Croat’s next assault.
Hrgovic (21-1, 16 KOs) showed heart, resilience and, called on all his experience, both amateur and pro to out-tough the youngster. At 34-years-old this was the zenith of the new champion’s achievement after winning bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics and fighting all-comers as a pro.
It was a sensational fight that showed the fine lines between heavyweight success and failure, but there were no losers on this night. A captivated crowd of close to 20,000 and those watching pay-per-view on the DAZN streaming platform were entertained royally. Queensberry Promotions and Frank Warren, though disappointed with the outcome (Itauma being ‘their’ fighter), must have been happy with the event and the ‘coming of age’ of a genuine world title contender.
Itauma showed it all at such a young age but unravelled from his ferocity and his willingness to end the fight spectacularly rather than box to an invitable split decision win. The term he ‘gassed out’ was cited by the new champion afterwards and repeatedly by the media in summing up the Brit’s performance. He was taken from the ring on a stretcher after the stoppage, hospitalised, but is now happily recovering at home. He will come again to the world title table, all the more experienced and ready after this hurtful night.
The co-feature saw world-ranked lightweight Sam Noakes, also Kent-based, beat former WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk unanimously on points over ten rounds. Noakes extends his impressive record to 19-1, 16 KOs and seeks a second world title shot after losing to WBO champion Abdullah Mason last November in a twelve round ‘firefight’ on a close points decision.
Berinchyk, an experienced Ukrainian London 2012 Olympic silver medallist dropped to 19-2, 9 KOs as pro, and his best days seem behind him.
The night though belonged to new IBF champion Filip Hrgovic and the future looks bright both achievement-wise and financially. The world honours are now again split four ways and unifications await.