Filip Hrgovic believes his dramatic victory over Moses Itauma could have been even more convincing, and the newly crowned IBF heavyweight champion says he would welcome another chance to face the British prospect.
Hrgovic stopped Itauma in the ninth round of their world title contest at London’s O2 Arena on August 29, recovering from a difficult opening eight rounds to claim the vacant IBF heavyweight championship.
More than a month after the fight, however, Hrgovic has revealed that watching the contest back left him thinking about what he could have done differently.
The Croatian said he felt he was not at his best on the night and believes he could have thrown more punches, moved faster and applied greater pressure.
His conclusion was simple. He wants another fight with Itauma.
Hrgovic told The Stomping Ground that his first reaction after watching the contest again was that he could perform at a much higher level.
He also acknowledged that Itauma’s speed caused him problems during the fight and made him hesitant at times. But rather than viewing that as a reason to avoid another meeting, Hrgovic believes it showed him exactly what he would need to change.
The champion’s confidence is reflected in his prediction for a potential second encounter.
“If a rematch happens, I will smash him,” Hrgovic said.
That statement comes after one of the most dramatic heavyweight fights of the year.
Itauma appeared to be heading towards a historic victory during the early stages of their first meeting. The 21 year old entered the contest unbeaten and immediately used his speed and sharp combinations to frustrate Hrgovic.
The British fighter even dropped the Croatian in the second round.
For several rounds, Itauma dictated the pace, landing clean punches while Hrgovic struggled to find the distance needed to impose his own style. Itauma’s movement and hand speed repeatedly forced the more experienced heavyweight to reset.
By the end of the eighth round, Hrgovic was behind on all three judges’ scorecards.
The fight changed dramatically in the ninth.
Itauma’s previous pace had begun to catch up with him. After never previously being taken beyond the sixth round in his professional career, the young heavyweight was suddenly fighting deeper into a contest than he had ever experienced.
Hrgovic recognised the opportunity.
The Croatian increased the pressure and drove Itauma towards the ropes, unloading a series of heavy punches. Itauma struggled to respond as the attacks continued, prompting his corner to stop the fight.
The stoppage gave Hrgovic a technical knockout victory and made him the first heavyweight world champion from Croatia.
It was also the first professional defeat for Itauma, who had entered the fight with 14 victories from 14 bouts, including 12 knockouts.
For the young heavyweight, the defeat ended a rapid rise that had generated significant attention across the division. Itauma had been attempting to become the second youngest heavyweight world champion in history, behind Mike Tyson.
The manner of the defeat made the result even more difficult.
After the fight, Itauma required medical attention and was taken to hospital before being released. He later indicated that he intended to continue his career and had expressed an interest in facing Hrgovic again.
His promoter, Frank Warren, subsequently urged the fighter not to rush into another major contest. Warren said Itauma needed time away from boxing to recover before deciding on his next move.
Hrgovic’s latest comments have now added another layer to the possibility of a rematch.
The champion does not appear to believe his first performance represented his full ability. Instead, he sees the fight as an experience from which he can learn.
A second meeting would also present a different challenge for Itauma.
The youngster would have the benefit of experiencing Hrgovic’s strength, resilience and late-fight pressure once already. He would also know that maintaining his pace for the entire contest could be just as important as winning the early rounds.
Hrgovic, meanwhile, would enter with a clearer understanding of Itauma’s speed and counterpunching ability.
But despite the interest from both fighters, a rematch is not currently scheduled.
Hrgovic’s immediate future is complicated by the IBF’s mandatory challenger situation. Cuban heavyweight Frank Sanchez had agreed to step aside to allow Hrgovic and Itauma to contest the vacant title and is positioned for his opportunity against the winner.
That could prevent Hrgovic from immediately returning to Itauma.
The Croatian has also spoken publicly about his ambition to unify the heavyweight titles, with WBC champion Agit Kabayel and WBO champion Daniel Dubois among the champions in his sights. However, the mandatory obligation involving Sanchez remains an important factor in determining his next fight.
For Itauma, the priority is likely to be rebuilding after the first defeat of his professional career.
The 21 year old showed enough during the opening rounds to demonstrate why he remains regarded as a major heavyweight prospect. His ability to hurt Hrgovic, control the distance and win rounds against an experienced opponent remains a significant part of the story.
What ultimately cost him was his inability to maintain that level until the final bell.
Hrgovic, on the other hand, now has the luxury of learning from a fight he won.
The Croatian survived the knockdown, absorbed sustained punishment and found enough energy to finish the contest strongly. His victory transformed a night that appeared to be slipping away into the biggest achievement of his career.
Now he wants to know what would happen if he started the next fight with the lessons from the first one already in his head.
For the moment, there is no agreement for a second meeting.
But Hrgovic has made his position clear.
If the opportunity comes again, he believes fans will see a faster, busier and more aggressive version of the heavyweight champion who survived Itauma’s best attacks and eventually stopped him in the ninth round.
