Moses Itauma was stretchered out of the ring and taken to hospital immediately after his ninth-round stoppage defeat to Filip Hrgovic in London. The 21-year-old was challenging for the vacant IBF heavyweight title at the O2 Arena, aiming to become the second youngest heavyweight world champion in history after Mike Tyson.
Itauma dominates early before fading
Itauma won every round in a dominant first half of the fight, scoring a second-round knockdown and blasting Hrgovic with heavy shots throughout. However, the experienced Croatian weathered the storm, absorbing the biggest punches Itauma threw.
The Chatham fighter had stopped 12 of his 14 previous opponents, but had never fought beyond the sixth round. His tank quickly emptied in the eighth round, with Hrgovic sensing his opportunity.
Fight stopped in the ninth round
By the ninth round, Itauma was barely able to stand, swinging wildly but no longer finding the target. With the ropes holding him upright and heavy blows coming in, trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel just as referee Howard Foster stepped in to stop the fight.
Itauma was attended to by the ringside doctor and paramedics before being carried backstage on a stretcher and taken to hospital.
Promoter confirms leg injury
Promoter Frank Warren said: 'This was an unbelievable fight tonight. The champ prevailed and did what he had to do. Moses [Itauma] gave everything, he has a leg injury. He has to go back to the drawing board and he can come again.'
Warren added in the post-fight press conference: 'Moses has gone to hospital. He has done something to his leg. Obviously he has to be checked over, it was a brutal fight. He did something to his leg and he was knackered as well. It was a very fast-paced fight.'
