Health update issued after Brit boxer Moses Itauma, 21, stretchered out of arena in worrying scenes
Moses Itauma was stopped from making British heavyweight history by Filip Hrgovic last night (29 August).
The 21-year-old from Kent ended up being removed from the ringside area at London’s O2 Arena on a stretcher.
With the clash billed ‘Witness History’, Itauma had been hoping to claim the title of the youngest British heavyweight champion but ultimately seemed to punch himself out in the ninth round.
He’d been explosive in the earlier rounds but Hrgovic, 34, took control in the eighth and ninth with the Brit boxer’s corner throwing in the towel.
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Itauma’s promoter Frank Warren claimed the fighter had ‘done something to his leg’ as worried fans watched him stretchered off.
“Moses has gone to the hospital for a check up,” he said in an update, as the boxer was left visibly exhausted.
“It’s precautionary that he’s gone to the hospital. That’s what we always do to make sure because the most important thing is the boxer’s health,” the promoter explained.
“He’s there and he’s in the best place. We’ll see what happens when I’ve got a report. We’ll obviously let everybody know.
“He’s done something to his leg as well and he was quite tired. It was a high paced, fast fight for both the guys. It was just edge of your seat stuff all the way through.”
Doctors reportedly say the fighter is doing ok but Warren seemed unable to guarantee the fighter would be back.
The scene in the arena was described as ‘sobering’ by the BBC as Itauma was stretchered out.
And the promoter added: "I don’t know what he’s going to say. “I’m sure he’s a fighting man. He showed that right to the end. At the end, that’s the type of fight it was – they were standing there just letting bombs go.
“I don’t even know how he feels mentally. Mentally, he’s going to be completely down. We’re going to have to talk to him and lift him and see what he’s like.
“It’s going to take some time. He’s going to have a nice break. It’s not even the time to talk about it with him at the moment.
“It’s something we’re probably doing in two weeks or even a month’s time, see where we go with it.”
Hrgovic praised his opponent, calling him an 'amazing fighter' but confessing he knew the 21-year-old would 'gas out'.
"I was losing every round, I was getting outboxed but somehow I found the energy and the punch to change it all. I was in the best shape of my life," the Croatian said.
"He is the best fighter I have been in with but he needs more experience, he gassed out. I knew I had the pace in my favour. He gassed out but he is one of a kind.
“I knew from the first round that he would gas out and then I would push and that’s what I did."
Jess Battison