English boxer Moses Itauma has been hospitalised after suffering a ninth round knockout defeat against Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic. The stoppage occurred following a grueling bout that left the British fighter needing immediate medical treatment at ringside.
Itauma was taken out of the ring on a stretcher and fitted with an oxygen mask following the referee's decision to halt the contest. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed that the fighter was taken directly to hospital for a medical examination after injuring his leg during the fight.
Warren told reporters that Itauma suffered a leg injury during the bout and was severely exhausted from the intense pace of the fight. Speaking to boxing publication The Ring, Warren explained that he did not know the precise details of the injury but insisted that placing the boxer on oxygen was entirely appropriate given the physical demands of the contest.
Medical Stoppage and Hospitalisation
According to Warren, Itauma was throwing punches purely on instinct during the closing moments of the ninth round. The promoter stated that the referee made the correct choice to stop the fight to protect the boxer from further harm as his physical condition deteriorated.
Background and Usyk Comparisons
Prior to the loss, Itauma had been highlighted by several boxing figures as a potential threat to Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Malik Scott, the trainer of former world champion Deontay Wilder, previously stated that Usyk would face a difficult challenge against the English boxer.
Scott pointed out that Itauma is shorter than Usyk, suggesting that the difference in height could present tactical problems for the Ukrainian. However, Scott also acknowledged that Usyk had previously overcome larger opponents without difficulty, citing his victories over British heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
Itauma now awaits further medical evaluation in hospital to determine the full extent of his leg injury and recover from extreme exhaustion following the stoppage.
