Hrgovic Comes Back to Stun, Stop Itauma;Wins IBF Heavyweight Title
Filip Hrgovic won the IBF Heavyweight title with an improbable ninth round comeback stoppage of prized prospect/contender Moses Itauma at The O2 Arena in London.
Early in round two, Itauma landed a little left hand that put Hrgovic on the canvas. Itauma dominated the first eight-rounds including pounding away and almost stopping Hrgovic.
In round nine, Hrgovic turned the table on a now exhausted Itauma. Hrgovic landed a plethora of unanswered blows and the towel was thrown in just as Itauma began to fall to the canvas at 2:27.
Hrgovic, 236.2 lbs of Zagreb, CRO is 21-1 with 13 knockouts. Itauma, 241.7 lbs of Chatham, ENG is 14-1.
Sam Noakes won a 10-round unanimous decision over Denys Berinchyk in a lightweight fight.
Noakes, 134.13 lbs of Maidse, ENG won by scores of 100-90. 98-92 and 97-93 and is now 19-1. Berinchyk, 134.1 lbs of Kyiv, UKR is 19-2.
Nelson Hysa stopped Thomas Narmo in the second round of their 10-round heavyweight bout.
In round two, Hysa dumped Narmo with a straight right and the fight was over at 36 seconds.
Hysa, 259.13 lbs of Shkoder, ALB is 25-0 with 23 knockouts. Narmo, 257.1 lbs of Sejetter, NOR is 14-1.
Constatin Ursu stopped Ben Vaughn in round eight due to a cut on the left eye in their 10-round welterweight bout.
The time of the stoppage was three seconds.
Ursu, 146.1 lbs of Plymouth, ENG is now 16-0 with seven knockouts. Vaughn, 146.12 lbs of Northampton, ENG is 12-3.
Guido Vianelli and Moses Jolley battled to an eight-round draw in a heavyweight bout.
In round two, Jolly was bleeding under his right eye.
In round seven, Vianello had swelling under his left eye.
The score was 76-76 by the referee.
Vianello, 241.14 lbs of Rome, ITA is 14-3-2. Jolly, 254.6 lbs of Swansea, WAL is 12-0-1.
Asnor Jashari won a six-round decision over Numan Hussein in a lightweight bout.
Jashari, 132.9 lbs of Switzerland won by a 60-55 score and is now 10-0. Hussein, 132.12 lbs of London is 8-2-2.
Aloys Junior won a six-round decision over Sherif Musah in a cruiserweight bout.
Junior, 205.9 lbs of South London won by a 60-54 score and is now 12-1. Musah, 202.3 lbs of France is 4-3-1.
Zane Ahmed stopped Liam Fitzmaurice in the second round of their four-round super featherweight fight.
In round two, Ahmed dropped Fitzmaurice with a body shot. Ahmed continued the onslaight and the bout was stopped at 2:47.
Ahmed, 130.4 lbs of Slough, ENG is 3-0 with one knockout. Fitzmaurice. 132.14 lbs of Licensure, ENG is 0-19.
Hassan Ishaq won a four-round decision over Enzo Munoz in a super bantamweight fight.
Ishaq, 121.5 lbs of Slough, ENG won by a 40-36 score and is now 4-0. Munoz, 122.14 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 4-17-4.
Frankie Wood stopped Callum Smith in the sixth and final round of their featherweight bout.
In round six, Wood landed a right hook to the head that put Smith down and the fight was stopped at 1:21.
Wood, 127.1 lbs of Bentley, ENG is 5-0 with two knockouts. Smith, 126.6 lbs of Trowbridge, ENG is 8-1.
Tony Curtis Jr. won a six-round decision over Ahmad Naseem in a super flyweight bout.
Curtis, 116.12 lbs of London won by a 58-56 score and is now 14-1. Nassem, 111.13 lbs of Warrington, ENG is 8-1.
Sam King won a four-round decision over Jack Swallow in a middleweight fight.
King, 160.2 lbs of Guten, ENG won by a 40-36 score and is now 7-0-1. Swallow, 161.2 lbs of Gloucter, ENG is 4-13-1.