Filip Hrgovic captures IBF heavyweight title by beating Moses Itauma

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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Filip Hrgovic reacts after victory over Moses Itauma following their IBF World heavyweight title fight on the Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic: Natural Born Thriller fight night card at The O2 Arena on August 29, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images) | Getty Images Filip Hrgovic had the biggest night of his career today in London, upsetting Moses Itauma to win the IBF heavyweight title. Hrgovic (21-1, 16 KO) gave credit to his faith giving him the strength to push through a punishing, and his wife for her support. He also dedicated the fight to his father, whom he credited for always supporting his boxing dreams, and also his daughter, who was born in May 2024, just before Hrgovic lost to Daniel Dubois by TKO. Hrgovic remembered nearly quitting boxing after that loss. “After the Daniel Dubois fight, I was so humiliated. I was down. I was thinking about quitting boxing. I was tired,” he said after his huge victory today. “And at the time, my daughter was born. She’s now two years old. And I said to myself, I want to try one more time for her. I want to make her proud. I dedicate this fight to my father and my daughter. She can walk proudly. Her father is world champion.” Hrgovic, 34, returned to the ring in April 2025 and beat Joe Joyce, and followed that with wins over David Adeleye and Dave Allen before today’s comeback stoppage win over Itauma, the heavily-favored, 21-year-old super prospect. It’s another reminder that fighters have all kinds of things pushing them forward, keeping them on their feet, and keeping them going after setbacks and very public defeats. For Hrgovic, faith and family inspired him to keep going in boxing, and to achieve a dream most observes just didn’t see happening for him.

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Filip Hrgovic said he nearly quit boxing two years ago after a loss to Daniel Dubois