21-year-old British boxer Moses Itauma taken to hospital on stretcher after defeat to Filip Hrgovic
MOSES ITAUMA was stretchered out of the ring after being overwhelmed by Filip Hrgovic, ending his aspirations for a world title at the O2 Arena.
The 21-year-old had aimed to become the youngest British heavyweight champion that Saturday night.
Itauma started the bout with confidence, dominating the early rounds, but as the fight went on, he began to tire, resulting in a momentum shift in favor of Hrgovic.
By the ninth round, Itauma appeared fatigued and started to show signs of instability.
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Seizing the opportunity, Hrgovic unleashed a barrage of punches, prompting a towel to be thrown into the ring.
Simultaneously, the referee halted the fight, with Itauma appearing in a concerning state.
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The young fighter was clearly in distress as he was carried out on a stretcher, marking a bitter end to his evening.
His promoter, Frank Warren, reported that the fighter had sustained a leg injury.
Footage has surfaced showing Itauma being taken out of the arena on a stretcher as concerned fans looked on.
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Itauma was reportedly taken to the hospital after the demanding match, but doctors indicated that he was “OK.”
Despite the disappointing conclusion for Itauma, Hrgovic commended his opponent.
He recognized Itauma as the finest fighter he had faced, admitting he was being outboxed until the late stoppage.
However, he mentioned that he sensed from the very first round that Itauma would “gas out” as the fight continued.
Hrgovic stated: “I was losing every round, I was getting outboxed but somehow I managed to find the energy and the punch to turn it around.
“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 will certainly be back in the future.
“He is the best fighter I have faced, but he needs more experience. He tired; I knew I had the pace in my favor. He ran out of steam, but he is truly special.
“From the first round, I could tell he would run out of gas, and that’s when I took my chance, which is exactly what I did.
“My wife is my biggest support, my angel, my guardian; I am grateful to her for everything.”
Warren confirmed that Hrgovic is scheduled to face Frank Sanchez next, with the winner expected to take on the Cuban.