Showing posts with label Filip Hrgovic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Filip Hrgovic. Show all posts
Sunday, 30 August 2026
FILIP HRGOVIC CLAIMS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE AS MOSES ITAUMA TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
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| Moses Itauma v Filip Hrgovic – The O2 Arena, © PA Wire/PA Images |
Moses Itauma was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure after his IBF world heavyweight title bid ended in a ninth-round stoppage by new champion Filip Hrgovic.
Itauma was carried from the ring on a stretcher following an explosive clash for the vacant belt at The O2 that saw Hrgovic become Croatia’s first champion in the division.
The 21-year-old from Kent was in complete command of the fight but had punched himself out in search of the knockout and was exhausted when referee Howard Foster came to his rescue with trainer Ben Davison also throwing in the towel.
“Moses has gone to the hospital for a check up,” promoter Frank Warren said.
“It’s precautionary that he’s gone to the hospital. That’s what we always do to make sure because the most important thing is the boxer’s health.
“He’s there and he’s in the best place. We’ll see what happens when I’ve got a report. We’ll obviously let everybody know.
“He’s done something to his leg as well and he was quite tired. It was a high paced, fast fight for both the guys. It was just edge of your seat stuff all the way through.”
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| Hrgovic and Itauma slugged it out in the final rounds (Steven Paston/PA) |
Itauma rained down blows on Hrgovic for the first seven rounds but the wily 34-year-old was able to soak up the punishment and then took control in the eighth and ninth rounds.
Showing a granite chin and enormous heart, he won the exchanges as the rivals went toe to toe and Itauma lurched across the ring until Foster intervened.
The clash had been billed ‘Witness History’ in anticipation of Itauma being crowned Britain’s youngest ever world heavyweight champion, but his career has stalled and Warren was unable to guarantee he would be back.
“I don’t know what he’s going to say,” Warren said. “I’m sure he’s a fighting man. He showed that right to the end. At the end, that’s the type of fight it was – they were standing there just letting bombs go.
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| Itauma started well but tired (Steven Paston/PA) |
“I don’t even know how he feels mentally. Mentally, he’s going to be completely down. We’re going to have to talk to him and lift him and see what he’s like.
“It’s going to take some time. He’s going to have a nice break. It’s not even the time to talk about it with him at the moment.
“It’s something we’re probably doing in two weeks or even a month’s time, see where we go with it.”
Hrgovic must now take on the IBF’s mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, who was paid step aside money to enable him to face Itauma.
“I can’t believe it’s happening,” he said. My head is ringing from everything. It will take time for my feelings to settle. But I can’t believe that after 20 years I have my dream.
“God gave me the best possible gift to fight to win a world title against the best guy in the division. The most talented guy in the division. There is no better way for me to become a world champion.”
- Duncan Bech, Press Association
Tuesday, 4 August 2026
MOSES ITAUMA AND FILIP HRGOVIC TO FIGHT FOR VACANT IBF TITLE, FRANK SANCHEZ PAID TO STEP ASIDE
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| Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic square up on June 22, 2026 |
Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic, set to collide on August 29 at London, England’s O2 Arena, will now be fighting for the vacant IBF heavyweight title.
No. 3-ranked Itauma, 14-0 (12 KOs), had been ordered by the sanctioning body to face leading IBF contender, Frank Sanchez, after the bout with Hrgovic had already been signed and announced. And with the Croatian rated fourth by the organization, it has been agreed that they can instead do battle for the belt on the condition that the winner meets Sanchez in their first defense.
“We paid [Sanchez] some money,” promoter Frank Warren told the BBC. “We said whoever wins the fight, you’re not losing out and you’ll get the opportunity to fight for the title against the winner.”
The 34-year-old Cuban, 26-1 (19 KOs), had achieved mandatory status with the IBF by knocking out Richard Torrez Jnr in two rounds in May.
Hrgovic, 20-1 (15 KOs), is riding a three-fight win streak – beating Joe Joyce, David Adeleye and Dave Allen – and is regarded as 21-year-old Itauma’s toughest test to date.
Presuming Itauma-Hrgovic isn’t a draw, it means that Warren’s Queensberry Promotions – who handle both Itauma and Hrgovic, as well as WBC boss Agit Kabayel and WBO beltholder Daniel Dubois – will promote three of the four heavyweight beltholders come the end of the month. The WBA titlist, Murat Gassiev, had previously been expected to face Itauma later in the year.
"A lot of people have high expectations of [Itauma] as I have, by the way," Warren said. "We signed him when he was 16. He was an amateur. We sponsored him, and he turned professional with us.
"And he's been amazing and sort of taken the world by storm.”
The influx of heavyweight beltholders can of course be explained by Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to relinquish his three titles in June. Though the 39-year-old is plotting one last fight – likely against Deontay Wilder – the Ukrainian’s days of fighting elite opposition are over, it seems.
Kabayel and Gassiev saw their statuses rise by virtue of Usyk’s decision to step down. Dubois defeated Fabio Wardley to claim his belt after Wardley was handed the championship when Usyk gave up the WBO title last year.
The winner of Itauma-Hrgovic will be the first to claim one of Usyk’s old belts in the ring.
- BoxingScene
Thursday, 18 June 2026
MOSES ITAUMA SET TO RETURN AGAINST FILIP HRGOVIC AS DATE AND LOCATION REVEALED
Perhaps the most exciting prospect in world boxing, Moses Itauma, is set to make his much-anticipated return to the ring in a huge step-up in opposition.
The highly-rated Brit was last in action back in March when he became the first man to stop durable American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin in the fifth round of their clash at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester.
Itauma has had an impressive start to his professional career and remains unbeaten in 14 contests, producing victories over the likes of Mariusz Wach, Demsey McKean and Dillian Whyte since his debut in January of 2023.
The 21-year-old from Kent now looks to take the next step towards becoming a world heavyweight champion as he prepares to tackle the toughest test of his career to date.
As reported by Sky Sports Boxing, Itauma will lock horns with Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday August 29, with a launch press conference expected to take place in the next couple of days.
Hrgovic could pose a serious threat to Itauma having suffered just one career defeat so far, an eighth round stoppage to reigning WBO world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in June of 2024.
The hard-hitting Croatian made his return to the ring last month when he proved to be too much for popular British heavyweight Dave Allen, stopping him in the third round of their clash at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster, England.
Whilst he is faced with what is certain to be the toughest test of his career, a victory for Itauma will see him move into pole position for a world title shot, which could come against WBO champion Dubois.
- Kailem Lowe
Friday, 18 July 2025
OLEKSANDR USYK TELLS DANIEL DUBOUS TO HIS FACE THAT ONE HEAVYWEIGHT HITS HARDER THAN HIM
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| Image credit: DAZN |
Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Daniel Dubois is just days away.
The Ukrainian looks to add even more to an already impeccable legacy this weekend at Wembley Stadium if he beats 27-year-old Brit Dubois for a second time.
The first time these two fought was in August 2023 out in Poland. It was a controversial fight given that ‘DDD’ had Usyk down on the canvas after landing what he thought was a fierce body shot, but the referee ruled it low and the Ukrainian was allowed time to recover, which he did, eventually stopping Dubois with a jab in the ninth round.
Since then, Usyk has beaten Tyson Fury twice on points to claim all four heavyweight belts, though had to vacate the IBF for the rematch.
Meanwhile, Dubois has matured as a man and as a fighter and has come through three increasingly tough tests against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua in the last 18 months, all of whom he stopped to become to earn the vacant IBF belt.
Most feel that Dubois’ chance in this return fight comes early and through his incredible heavyweight power. However, speaking to DAZN, the now-nearing 40-year-old Usyk was asked about the biggest puncher he has faced in the ring. Rather than pick his old foe Dubois, he went with a fellow Brit.
“I think it’s Derek. Crazy Derek.”
Usyk fought Chisora back in 2020 in his second contest up at heavyweight and won a tough contest on the cards. Many feel that ‘Del Boy’ set the blueprint for how to fight the Ukrainian, though nobody has been able to emulate it since, certainly not to the point of beating him.
Whoever wins this weekend will be crowned undisputed world heavyweight champion – in Usyk’s case, that could be for a history-making second time on top of having been undisputed cruiserweight champion.
- Kristan Caryl
Thursday, 3 April 2025
JOE JOYCE BELIEVES HE WILL REPEAT THE WIN OVER FILIP HRGOVIC: "I LOOK FORWARD TO KNOCKING HIM OUT ON SATURDAY NIGHT"
Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic press conference quotes
The leading cast for the ‘Heavy Impact’ card that will take place on Saturday at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester gathered at the venue today for the final press conference ahead of fight night, being broadcast live on DAZN.
Joe Joyce goes up against Filip Hrgovic in the headline attraction, with the British heavyweight title being fought for between David Adeleye and Jeamie TKV.
Frank Warren
“Saturday is a new era for us, we are on DAZN and we will be seen worldwide, which is a great, great showcase for all the fighters. We are competitive, like the boxers and certainly like the rest of the promoters on DAZN, we aim to be the best and put the best shows on and our start is a fabulous one.
“The main event between Joe and Filip is a cracker of a fight, it is a fight with jeopardy involved where the winner will go on and the loser will have a hard, hard task to get back into the mix at the top. We all know what is on the line and they know that better than anybody else in this room. So I am looking forward to a great fight and a fabulous, fabulous undercard.”
Joe Joyce
“It is a great fight, entertainment, and I expect a great performance. It is good to share the ring with Hrgovic again, we had a good scrap last time about 12 years ago. The same result is going to happen, I’m going to win and then get elevated back up to the top of the sport. I am really excited to be here again, there is a lot of excitement here and it is going to be a great night of boxing.
“I know exactly what to expect from him and I have worked with Abel [trainer, Sanchez] before. He’s got a lot of mileage and has been in the sport a long time and had a lot of hard fights. I look forward to knocking him out on Saturday night.”
Filip Hrgovic
“Are we still main event after this? It was short notice, a few weeks, but I was already in good shape. That is why I accepted this fight and I think this is a good opportunity for me. This win, hopefully on Saturday, brings me back to the top and it is good to be part of this.
“Thanks to Queensberry and DAZN and I am looking forward to the win on Saturday, to knock him out and get back to the top. That is the plan. My motivation is big, for sure. I want to be back at the top and, like Frank said, the loser will be in a very bad position. I don’t want to lose.
“Man he is 40 years old. If he is 39 then he is young, I didn’t know that. Look, he is definitely not in the peak of his career, fighters get older and that is the reality, I am seven years younger. I think it will play a role in this fight.”
Jeamie TKV
“I am even more excited about this fight, To be honest, I am offended. I am offended by David’s behaviour. He knows me and I know him and the way he has been going about talking I am offending. The way he has been behaving is very disrespectful. I don’t take that lightly and I’m going to show him on Saturday.
“This persona that he is putting on, this bad boy persona. We are both educated men, both raised by great parents. So what are you? An academic gangster? I don’t know where this persona comes from my brother. You say you are going to knock me out, but when I say it I am being disrespectful?
“You are taking it personally that I am taking this fight. I see a scared man and I know when I see a scared man. What happened at Talksport was he couldn’t get to me, he tried saying I had lost too much weight and wouldn’t hold his shots. He got frustrated because I’m not reacting to him, so he decided to pipe up for no reason. He tried to pull up in my face."
David Adeleye
“All this educated gangster, I am just being myself. Of course it is personal, we are fighting in 48 hours. You don’t see a scared man, where do you see fear in me? Scared of what?
“You can ask me what happened at Talksport on Monday, I just cussed his weight, I cussed his appearance and he is obviously insecure about it. He’s got this cameraman, this Harry Hill looking guy recording and editing in a certain way. I did want to take this fight, me and you spoke on the phone and your managers were calling mine. What are you talking about?
“You called me and said I know you’re going to do Dacres and after that you were saying ‘you’re the truth’. Your manager said to me there is nothing for Jeamie, nothing going on for Jeamie and we know he ain’t getting nothing. Let’s be real about it. You’re a bitch. Every time I fight security come because they know I’m on smoke, with you there is no security.”
Delicious Orie
“I am just happy to be here, to be honest. When I started boxing in 2016 I saw Joyce win his silver medal, Hrgovic his bronze, David Adeleye and Jeamie TKV doing their thing as elite amateurs, so I was looking up to these guys. Here I am sat with them at the table, on the same card, I am living life at the moment.
“It will be different, there is a slight adaptation and for the last eight years I have just been focused on the Olympics, so for the last three months I have been working with Grant Smith in Sheffield just working on digging in a little bit more, planting my feet, getting used to the smaller gloves as well. I just can’t wait to put it all together this Saturday.
“Professional boxing is different. As an amateur I go in there to score the points to get my hand raised. It is different now, I actually have to hurt my opponent. That is the kind of spite I have been talking about.”
- Tim Rickson
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