“I saw from the first round that he was breathing hard,” Hrgovic said at his post-fight press conference. “He throwing too much. He was fighting like an amateur, you know, and I knew I need to endure. I need to stay there. And he going to get tired, you know, and I’ll get him in later rounds.”
The British crowd gave Itauma encouragement to keep spending. Every big shot brought another roar, urging him to follow with more. Ignoring that reaction takes discipline, especially when an opponent has already been down. Itauma kept responding with attacks he could not sustain, feeding the crowd’s excitement while leaving himself increasingly exposed.
Hrgovic managed those exchanges with greater composure. He covered up through the worst stretches and answered often enough to stop Itauma from having everything his own way. That did not mean he was comfortable. His speed difficulties were real, but he resisted the temptation to match every burst. While Itauma chased the finish, Hrgovic preserved enough energy to punish him afterward.
Nor did Itauma reach the championship rounds. He was stopped before round ten began, with three full rounds still beyond him. Ben Davison’s towel followed the referee’s intervention. His own corner also wanted the punishment ended.
This was not a flawless trap laid by Hrgovic. He admitted he had anticipated an easier fight and initially struggled to connect because Itauma’s punches and counters were too fast. Surviving that speed required absorbing shots he had wanted to avoid.
Hrgovic lasted long enough to exploit the exhaustion Itauma’s earlier opponents had never forced him to confront.
His recommendation was easier fights and better pacing for Itauma. Easier opposition may rebuild confidence, but quick knockouts will not establish that he has corrected anything. He needs to learn how to end an attack without emptying himself, defend while recovering, and accept that a hurt opponent may survive.
Until then, the same vulnerability remains: Itauma becomes available to hit after doing his best work.
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