Filip Hrgovic wins IBF heavyweight title — reported purse and payouts
Hrgovic stopped Moses Itauma in round nine at the O2 Arena; reported total purse was £2.2 million and the fighters had agreed fixed payoffs.
Filip Hrgovic became the IBF world heavyweight champion after stopping local fighter Moses Itauma at London’s O2 Arena.
British reports put the total purse for the bout at £2.2 million (about €2.6 million). The money, however, was not split according to the fight’s outcome: the two camps had agreed fixed purses beforehand. Those reports say Itauma will take £1.5 million while Hrgovic will leave London with the title belt and £700,000 (roughly €820,000).
Those figures have not been officially confirmed by the sanctioning bodies or the promoters, but they were published by respected newspapers and therefore are considered reliable.
How the fight unfolded
On hostile home soil, Hrgovic stopped previously unbeaten Briton Moses Itauma in the ninth round, dealing the first defeat of Itauma’s professional career. Itauma started stronger, imposed his rhythm early and even floored Hrgovic in the second round. Hrgovic beat the count and the fight continued.
Although not again knocked down, Hrgovic remained largely on the back foot through the sixth round. Signs of fatigue showed on Itauma’s face at the start of the seventh; up to that point Itauma had finished all 14 of his prior wins inside the first six rounds. Realising he had little chance of winning on points, Hrgovic adopted an all-or-nothing approach that paid off when the referee Foster stepped in to halt the contest in round nine.
Social media reacted instantly to the upset: “Filip Hrgovic stops Moses Itauma in round 9🤯
This is absolute bonkers.
I must say inexperience costed Moses Itauma.” — The Sports Pulse (@Tsportspulse)
The Croatian now holds the IBF heavyweight title and will return home with the belt and the reported pay cheque; Itauma keeps the larger share of the purse despite losing on his home card.
Photo: press material from the event
