British boxer Moses Itauma suffers shock defeat to Filip Hrgovic in heavyweight world title fight

British boxer Moses Itauma has suffered a shock defeat to Croatian fighter Filip Hrgovic in their world heavyweight title fight in London.

The referee stopped the fight in the ninth round - and the towel came flying in - as an exhausted Itauma took punishment from his opponent.

Itauma was overwhelming favourite and many were expecting a quick victory that would have made him the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson.

But the 21-year-old needed oxygen after the IBF title fight and was stretchered off and taken to hospital for checks.

The Kent fighter started strongly at the O2 Arena and was firmly in control early on - but his fast start proved his undoing.

Itauma was soon gasping between rounds and the Croatian continued moving forward, seemingly growing in confidence after his granite chin took his opponent's best shots.

The young fighter entered uncharted territory as he went past the sixth round for the first time in his career - but remained very much in the fight.

Itauma seemed close to victory himself in the eighth round as his blistering speed and body shots slowed Hrgovic.

The Briton unleashed an onslaught of punches but Hrgovic weathered the storm, came back off the ropes and ended with stinging shots of his own.

As the bell went for the ninth, the veteran heavyweight smelled blood and went after Itauma, who staggered around the ring in a daze.

Trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel as the referee intervened to stop the fight.

Itauma had been lauded by many as a champion-in-waiting after winning 12 of his 14 previous bouts by knockout - 11 of those coming in the first two rounds.

However, this will now be viewed as a step too far, too early for the fighter - whose power and exceptional speed have made him one of the brightest prospects in boxing.

Completely spent, he was stretchered from the ring and didn't do any immediate post-fight interviews. The Chatham fighter has plenty of time on his side but this was a brutal lesson.

Hrgovic rightly deserves the plaudits for defying the odds and becoming Croatia's first-ever heavyweight champion.

"He's an amazing fighter - I want to thank him," Hrgovic said afterwards.

"To give me a chance to become a new superstar in the heavyweight division. I am the present. He is definitely the future."

German WBC champion Agit Kabayel was full of praise for the Croatian as he entered the ring after the bell, setting the scene for a potential two-title clash in the future.

Other potential opponents include Britain's WBO champion Daniel Dubois, should he again defeat Fabio Wardley in their rematch.

(c) Sky News 2026: British boxer Moses Itauma suffers shock defeat to Filip Hrgovic in heavyweight world title fight