Filip Hrgovic's defeat sends Itauma to hospital on a stretcher
Young boxing prodigy Moses Itauma was stretchered out of the ring after being rocked by Filip Hrgovic as his world title dream went up in smoke at the O2 Arena.
The 21-year-old was hoping to become the youngest British heavyweight champion on Saturday night.
He controlled the early rounds but started to tire towards the end, and momentum shifted to Hrgovic.
Itauma eventually punched himself out in the ninth and started to wobble.
Hrgovic pounced on the opportunity – unleashing a succession of punches before the towel came in to crown him IBF world champion.
The referee waved off the fight at the same time, and Itauma looked in a bad way.
The young fighter was seen getting stretchered out of the ring as his night ended in brutal fashion.
His promoter Frank Warren claimed his fighter had suffered a leg injury.
One clip circulating shows Itauma being taken out of the arena on the stretcher by medics as worried fans watched on.
Itauma has been taken to hospital after his bruising encounter, according to the BBC, but doctors say he is “OK”.
Despite the distressing end to the fight for Itauma, Hrgovic was full of praise for his opponent.
He admitted Itauma was the best fighter he had faced and said he was outboxed before the late stoppage.
However, he insisted he “knew from round one” that Itauma would “gas out” later in the fight.
Hrgovic said: “I was losing every round, I was getting outboxed, but somehow I found the energy and the punch to change it all.
“I was in the best shape of my life. I ask him now, is a chin important? A chin is important.
“He is an amazing fighter; he gave me the chance to fight for the world title, and he will be back in the future.
“He is the best fighter I have been in with, but he needs more experience; he gassed out. I knew I had the pace in my favour. He gassed out, but he is one of a kind.
“I knew from the first round that he would gas out and then I would push, and that’s what I did.
“My wife is my biggest support, my angel, my guardian; I thank her for everything.”
Warren confirmed Hrgovic would face Frank Sanchez next, as the winner was ordered to face the Cuban.
