Filip Hrgovic (21-1) pulled off a major upset at The O2 Arena, stopping Moses Itauma (14-1) in round nine to claim the vacant IBF heavyweight title. Itauma’s limited experience and carefully managed opposition left him unprepared for a long, punishing fight against a full-sized heavyweight who refused to disappear.
Exhaustion finally consumed Itauma late in the contest. He collapsed into a neutral corner with little left to offer, prompting his team to throw in the towel. The win makes Hrgovic the first Croatian heavyweight world champion.
Undercard action
Sam Noakes Sweeps Past Denys Berinchyk
In a dominant performance, Sam Noakes (19-1, 16 KOs) swept former WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk (19-2, 9 KOs), winning by a wide 10-round unanimous decision by the scores 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92.
Noakes pressed behind a high work rate, held his ground in the pocket and repeatedly outmuscled the former champion. Berinchyk could not slow the pace or create enough openings to change the direction of the fight.
The result put Noakes back among the winners after his narrow loss to Abdullah Mason in November. Berinchyk, returning from a 19-month absence, has now dropped consecutive fights following his February 2025 defeat against Keyshawn Davis.
Nelson Hysa Stops Thomas Narmo in Round Two
Nelson Hysa needed only two rounds to remove Thomas Narmo from their battle of heavyweight punchers. Hysa took the opening round before forcing the stoppage in the second, handing Narmo his first professional defeat. A matchup carrying 36 knockouts across 38 combined wins never looked likely to reach the scorecards, and Hysa proved to be the heavier threat once the exchanges opened.
Constantin Ursu Retains After Vaughan Cut
Ben Vaughan’s bid for the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles ended because of an injury rather than Ursu’s punches. An accidental clash of heads opened a cut above Vaughan’s right eye in the fifth round, and the damage continued to worsen despite an initial examination from the ringside doctor.
Vaughan had been giving Constantin Ursu a competitive fight before the doctor inspected the wound again during the eighth round and called a halt.
Guido Vianello Held to Draw by Moses Jolly
Moses Jolly refused to play the role of an easy opponent for heavily favored Guido Vianello, earning a 76-76 draw after eight rounds. Vianello delivered the straighter, technically cleaner punches, while Jolly closed the distance and turned the bout into a physical scrap. Blood from Vianello’s ear required several checks by the ringside doctor late in the fight. Jolly’s pressure and activity kept the rounds close enough for the referee to score the heavyweight contest level.
Numan Hussain’s experience kept him in the fight, but it never gave him control over Arbnor Jashari. The Swiss Albanian boxer worked at a quicker tempo, connected with crisp combinations and consistently finished the exchanges in the stronger position. Hussain remained durable throughout, although his lower output left little doubt about the points verdict.
A late opponent switch denied Aloys Youmbi the type of return many anticipated. After spending camp preparing for southpaw Mike Perez, Youmbi instead faced an orthodox pressure fighter in Sherif Musah. The clinching and close-range exchanges disrupted Youmbi early, causing him to overshoot with his right hand. Shorter hooks and better foot positioning helped him gain control as the fight progressed.
Frankie Wood Finds a Sixth Round Finish
Callum Lee was only minutes away from reaching the final bell when Frankie Wood forced the stoppage. Lee had competed well enough to keep the featherweight bout close, but Wood continued pushing the pace and began taking over late. His persistence paid off during the sixth, ending Lee’s perfect start as a professional.
Tony Curtis Keeps Naseeb at Long Range
Imad Naseeb pressed forward throughout their six-round super flyweight contest without consistently getting past Tony Curtis’ jab. Curtis used the longer reach, quicker hands and cleaner movement to decide when the exchanges occurred. Naseeb’s aggression kept him involved, though Curtis landed the better work and received the points verdict.
Sam King Boxes Past Jack Swallow
Jack Swallow once again filled the role of a durable opponent, giving Sam King six rounds without threatening to take the decision. King held the physical advantages and maintained the stronger work rate, using his size to control the exchanges. Swallow absorbed the cleaner punches and remained on his feet, but King had already built a comfortable lead by the final bell.
Zayn Ahmed Ends Matters in the Second
Liam Fitzmaurice could not use his professional experience to slow Zayn Ahmed. The younger super bantamweight imposed himself from the opening round and forced the stoppage in the second. What was scheduled as a four-round contest lasted less than half that distance as Ahmed quickly exposed the difference between them.
Hassan Ishaq Taken the Distance by Munoz
Enzo Bahiano Munoz became the first opponent to hear the final bell against Hassan Ishaq. The Argentine offered little chance of an upset but proved sturdy enough to survive four rounds. Ishaq abandoned the hunt for another knockout, worked behind his boxing and completed a clear points win.
