It was a classic case of conditioning issues and inexperience, alongside a protected resume, finally catching up with the young phenom. Itauma collapsed into the turnbuckle late from pure exhaustion, which forced the corner to throw in the towel. Hrgovic makes history as Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion.
The 21-year-old Brit opened fast, dropping Hrgovic during round two with precise punches. Itauma built an early lead across the middle rounds through crisp flurries plus dedicated body work. Hrgovic showed off his granite chin, soaking up heavy artillery while remaining dangerous inside the pocket.
