Filip Hrgović Makes History: Croatia Has a Heavyweight World Champion!

Croatian boxing has just experienced one of its biggest moments ever. Filip Hrgović has become the IBF heavyweight world champion, defeating British rising star Moses Itauma at the O2 Arena in London on 29 August 2026. Even more importantly for Croatian sport, Hrgović became the first Croatian to win a heavyweight world championship title.

The victory was anything but easy.

Itauma entered the fight as one of boxing’s most exciting young fighters and started extremely strongly. His speed and power caused Hrgović problems from the beginning, and in the second round he even knocked the Croatian down. For much of the early fight, Itauma appeared to be in control.

However, Hrgović refused to give up.

As the fight continued, his experience, endurance and toughness became more important. Itauma began to tire, while Hrgović continued to pressure him. By the eighth round, the momentum of the fight had started to completely change.

Then came the ninth round.

Hrgović attacked the exhausted Itauma with a series of punches against the ropes. With Itauma struggling to defend himself, the fight was stopped, giving Hrgović a dramatic ninth-round victory and the vacant IBF heavyweight championship.

The result was especially meaningful because Hrgović’s journey to the title had not been perfect. After losing to Daniel Dubois in 2024, his hopes of becoming a world champion had suffered a major setback. Rather than allowing that loss to end his career, Hrgović rebuilt himself and continued fighting towards the goal he had chased for years.

That makes this victory about more than simply winning a boxing match.

For Croatia, it is another incredible sporting achievement. A country with a population of only a few million people has produced world-class footballers, tennis players, handball players, athletes and now a heavyweight boxing world champion.

Hrgović walked into the ring as the experienced underdog against one of boxing’s most highly rated young prospects. He walked out as a world champion.

For Croatian boxing fans, the night will be remembered for a long time.

Filip Hrgović is finally heavyweight champion of the world.