Hospitalised

Filip Hrgovic is the first Croatian to become a world heavyweight boxing champion after beating Briton Moses Itauma.

Filip Hrgovic of Croatia beat Britain’s Moses Itauma via a ninth-round stoppage to win the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) world heavyweight title in a thrilling contest in London.

Itauma, bidding to become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion after Mike Tyson, was on top during the fight’s early stages but had to be carried from the ring on a stretcher and taken to hospital from the O2 Arena on Saturday.

Facing the toughest test of his 15-fight professional career against an experienced Olympic medal winner, the 21-year-old Itauma tired against an opponent with a granite chin.

Itauma’s trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel in the ninth round, but by that time referee Howard Foster had stopped the fight in Hrgovic’s favour as the Croat won the world heavyweight title vacated by Ukrainian boxing great Oleksandr Usyk.

It was Itauma’s first time beyond the sixth round and at one point in the ninth he looked as if he was about to topple.

“I don’t know from where I got energy in that [ninth] round,” said the 34-year-old Hrgovic, almost as spent physically as his beaten opponent.

“It was really not my strength. It was Holy Spirit. He gave me strength in this camp to endure everything, to have [the] best camp of my life, he put me in touch with this great coach Abel Sanchez.”

Hrgovic saluted the courageous Itauma by adding: “I’m the present, and he’s definitely [the] future. He’s an amazing fighter. He’s one of a kind. He’s the best I’ve been in a ring with, but he needed more experience.

“I felt the pace of the fight. I knew I was losing rounds, but I knew that I had that pace in my favour. He was gassing out.”

Itauma landed with several straight left hands early on and Hrgovic was given a standing eight count in the second after being caught with a right hook.

Itauma’s uppercut at the end of the fifth round had home fans in a partisan crowd standing in appreciation.

But come the eighth, both boxers appeared out on their feet, with Hrgovic somehow still standing despite several punishing blows.

Hrgovic was landing powerful shots of his own and, with a dazed Itauma lurching around the ring, Foster called a halt in the ninth round.

Promoter Frank Warren said after the bout that Hrgovic is set to next fight Cuban Frank Sanchez, but the Croatian himself said he instead wants to take on WBO champion Daniel Dubois and then WBC title holder Agit Kabayel — both of whom were ringside at the O2 Arena.

“I want unification. Frank Sanchez will wait,” Hrgovic said.

Hrgovic’s only loss came to Dubois in 2024. Hrgovic was bleeding from deep cuts above his eyes that time when the ringside doctor recommended the fight be stopped.

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren has said that Irish boxer Lee Reeves is “making progress” after being hospitalised following his fight in Dublin on Saturday night.

The 31-year-old’s condition was described as “critical but stable” after he was admitted for treatment following his defeat to Gary Cully.

Reeves was fighting for the vacant BUI Celtic super-lightweight title but was knocked out in the 10th round at the 3Arena.

The Limerick southpaw was stretchered out of the ring after the fight.

An update provided by Warren on Thursday struck a positive note.

“My team have been in touch with Lee Reeves’ team and he is making progress. That is what we’re hearing and thank the Lord for that,” Warren said.

“With Lee and it’s all about time. Time hopefully can be a healer.”

Warren added that his hope was that Reeves would be able to “get back to his family as soon as possible”.

A protest by India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party has intensified after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly moved to a hospital on the 21st day of his hunger strike. Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was splashed with ink after beginning a fast in solidarity.