Frank Warren Reveals He Never Wanted Itauma-Hrgovic Fight

Frank Warren didn't want Moses Itauma anywhere near Filip Hrgovic. That's the admission the Queensberry boss made to The Ring after his 21-year-old prospect — 14-0 with 12 knockouts and ranked sixth at heavyweight going in — was dragged into deep water and stopped in the ninth round of his 15th professional fight.

The frustrating part for Warren is that Itauma was winning. He'd banked practically every round, using his speed and southpaw angles to bamboozle the Croatian. But he chased a highlight-reel finish, burned through his tank, and Hrgovic capitalised on the empty fuel light to author a stunning late stoppage — and become his country's first-ever world heavyweight champion.

The Fight Warren Fought Against

Hrgovic was always framed as a calculated risk, the kind of opponent who could survive early and turn the fight into a war of attrition. Warren says he'd lined up someone different for this slot entirely. It was Team Itauma who pushed for the Croatian, telling the promoter he was the perfect name in every way. Warren agreed to it reluctantly.

His verdict now carries a wry edge. Had Itauma blown Hrgovic out in the eighth, Warren noted, everyone involved would've looked like a genius. Because it went the other way, he's oddly at peace with the outcome — a losing performance that exposed exactly what needs fixing beats a flattering win that hides the cracks.

What Happens Next

One line from ringside clearly rattled Warren: Itauma's brother Karol told him the heavyweight wouldn't feel like a true champion unless he'd knocked Hrgovic out. That mindset — the hunt for the spectacular over the sensible — is arguably what cost him. Now Warren, alongside head coach Ben Davison, wants a proper post-mortem to build Itauma into what he calls a complete package.

For Hrgovic, the reward is the vacant IBF title and an immediate obligation. His first defence is mandated against Frank Sanchez, the No. 7-ranked Cuban who sits at 26-1 (19 KO) and blitzed Richard Torrez in two rounds last time out. For Itauma, it's back to the drawing board — still 21, still 14-1, still a heavyweight worth watching once the rebuild is done.