Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Filip Hrgovic has called for a rematch with Moses Itauma and vowed to produce a more aggressive performance if the two heavyweights meet again, weeks after the Croatian stopped the British prospect to become IBF world heavyweight champion.
Hrgovic, who secured the vacant International Boxing Federation heavyweight title with a ninth-round stoppage of Itauma at London’s O2 Arena on August 29, said he was not satisfied with every aspect of his performance when he later watched the fight again.
The 34-year-old Croatian said the experience had convinced him that he could have thrown more punches, moved faster and applied greater pressure against Itauma.
“If a rematch happens, I will smash him,” Hrgovic said in an interview with The Stomping Ground, according to boxing reports.
The comments have reopened discussion about a possible second meeting between the two fighters after their first encounter produced one of the most significant heavyweight results of 2026.
Hrgovic Wants Another Chance to Face Itauma
Hrgovic entered the first fight as the more experienced professional, while Itauma was widely regarded as one of the heavyweight division’s most promising young fighters.
The contest initially appeared to be moving in Itauma’s direction.
The 21-year-old British boxer used his speed and combinations effectively during the early rounds and even knocked Hrgovic down in the second round. Hrgovic subsequently acknowledged that Itauma had given him problems with his movement, timing and hand speed.
However, the Croatian remained in the contest and gradually changed the nature of the fight.
Itauma’s pace began to decline as the bout progressed, while Hrgovic continued applying pressure. The fight eventually ended in the ninth round when Hrgovic stopped Itauma and became Croatia’s first world heavyweight champion.
The result ended Itauma’s unbeaten professional record and secured Hrgovic the IBF title.
Hrgovic has now indicated that the victory did not eliminate his desire to fight Itauma again. Instead, watching the contest back appears to have strengthened his belief that he can produce an even better performance against the young Briton.
A Different Fight Could Emerge in a Rematch
Hrgovic’s assessment of the first encounter centres largely on his belief that he was too cautious at important moments.
He said Itauma’s speed caused him to hesitate and prevented him from throwing as freely as he wanted. In his view, greater aggression and a higher work rate could have changed the fight even further in his favour.
A rematch would therefore present an interesting tactical question.
Itauma demonstrated in the opening stages that he possesses the speed and technical ability to trouble Hrgovic. The British heavyweight repeatedly landed combinations and was able to control much of the early action.
Hrgovic, however, demonstrated the value of experience and durability during the later rounds.
The Croatian survived the difficult early period, absorbed significant punishment and continued to press forward until Itauma’s pace dropped.
That contrast would be central to any future meeting.
For Itauma, the key issue would be managing his energy across the full distance against a physically durable opponent. For Hrgovic, the challenge would be finding a way to deal with Itauma’s speed earlier while maintaining enough defensive discipline to avoid absorbing unnecessary punishment.
The first fight therefore provided both men with lessons that could influence a second contest.
Hrgovic Says He Is the Best Champion
Hrgovic has also used his victory over Itauma to make a broader claim about his position in the heavyweight division.
In his recent comments, the IBF champion said he believes he defeated the best fighter in the division and considers himself the best champion at present.
That assessment reflects Hrgovic’s personal view rather than an official designation across boxing’s various governing bodies and rankings.
The heavyweight division currently has multiple champions and titleholders, meaning there is no single universally recognised champion across all major belts.
Hrgovic holds the IBF title, while other heavyweight championship belts are held by different fighters. The fragmented nature of the division means that determining the leading heavyweight requires comparisons across separate title organisations, rankings and recent results.
Hrgovic’s claim is therefore likely to remain part of the wider debate over who currently occupies the strongest position in the heavyweight division.
His victory over Itauma nevertheless gave him a significant basis for making the argument.
Itauma’s Early Dominance Remains Important
Although Hrgovic won the fight, the circumstances of the victory are important when assessing the possibility of a rematch.
Itauma was highly competitive for much of the contest and appeared to have the advantage during the early rounds. His speed created difficulties for Hrgovic, while his combinations repeatedly found their target.
The turning point came as Itauma began to tire.
The British fighter had previously built much of his reputation around his ability to finish opponents early, but Hrgovic presented a different type of challenge. The Croatian was able to remain competitive under pressure and take the fight into territory Itauma had not experienced at the same level.
By the later rounds, Hrgovic’s experience became increasingly important.
The Croatian eventually stopped Itauma in the ninth round, transforming what had been a difficult fight into a world-title victory.
The result also provided Itauma with the first professional defeat of his career.
Itauma’s Response Will Shape the Next Chapter
A rematch cannot happen solely because Hrgovic wants it.
Promoters, broadcasters, governing bodies and the fighters themselves would all have roles in determining whether the contest becomes commercially and competitively possible.
There is also the question of what comes next for both heavyweights.
Hrgovic has obligations connected to the IBF championship and could be required to consider mandatory challengers or other title opportunities. Reports have also linked him with potential fights involving other leading heavyweights as the division continues to develop.
Itauma, meanwhile, must decide how to rebuild after the first defeat of his professional career.
Following the loss, Itauma said he would learn from the experience and return to boxing. The defeat ended his unbeaten record but did not remove the attention surrounding his potential.
His age also gives him significant time to develop.
At 21, Itauma remains one of the younger contenders in the heavyweight division. A future return against Hrgovic would give him an opportunity to apply whatever lessons he and his team draw from the first encounter.
No Immediate Rematch Has Been Confirmed
Despite Hrgovic’s public call for another fight, there is currently no confirmed date for a rematch.
Reports following the first bout indicated that an immediate second meeting was not guaranteed, with Itauma expected to continue his career after recovering from the demanding contest.
That means Hrgovic’s comments should be viewed as an expression of his desire rather than confirmation that negotiations for a rematch have been completed.
The situation could also change depending on mandatory title obligations, promotional plans and other heavyweight fights.
For Hrgovic, the immediate priority is defending and strengthening his position as IBF champion.
For Itauma, the focus is likely to be on returning to competition, learning from the defeat and rebuilding his momentum.
What the First Fight Changed
The August encounter changed the trajectory of both fighters.
Before the contest, Itauma was unbeaten and regarded as a rapidly developing heavyweight prospect. A victory would have moved him closer to becoming one of the division’s youngest world champions.
Instead, Hrgovic used his experience to overcome an early disadvantage and claim the IBF championship.
The victory also transformed Hrgovic’s status.
After years of competing at the highest level without a world title, the Croatian finally achieved his goal and became a heavyweight champion.
His subsequent call for a rematch suggests that he does not regard the first victory as the limit of what he can achieve against Itauma.
Whether the two fighters meet again will depend on the direction taken by the heavyweight division, but Hrgovic has made his position clear: he wants another opportunity to face the young Briton and believes he can perform at a higher level.
For Itauma, a second meeting would offer the chance to demonstrate how much he has learned from the first defeat.
For Hrgovic, it would provide an opportunity to defend his claim that his victory was not simply the result of surviving Itauma’s early pressure, but evidence that he can impose himself more decisively over the younger heavyweight.
For now, however, the rematch remains a possibility rather than a confirmed fight.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
The Guardian
Sky Sports
Bad Left Hook
The Ring
Al Jazeera
Boxing News
