Naija sport fans, make una hear dis one. Tonite for London, Filip Hrgovic don become Croatia first ever heavyweight world champion. E bin stop Moses Itauma for Round 9 to take di vacant IBF belt. Di fight bin hot from di start, with Moses dey rush am, but e don gas out quick.
For di weigh-in on Friday, di two boxers don nearly fight. Moses bin push Hrgovic off di stage, and di Croatian bin climb back up and slap Moses face. Security bin pull dem apart. Moses later talk say e just lose am small, but e dey ready for di fight.
Hrgovic bin enter di ring talk say e bin outboxed, but e get energy for Round 9 to finish am. “E no be me, na Jesus Christ inside me,” e talk. “Holy Spirit, Father, Sun and di Holy Spirit. E no be me. I was losing every round.” E also praise Moses, say e be “one of a kind” and di best fighter wey e don fight. “But e need more experience,” Hrgovic add.
Moses coach, Ben Davison, bin throw in di towel for Round 9 because di boy don tired, and e no fit continue. After di fight, Moses bin dey carried comot on stretcher. Ugo Monye bin say, “E dey collapse. E no dey for good place at all.” Molly Stephens report say Moses dey go hospital, but doctors say e dey okay.
Many pundits bin dey talk about di fight. Richie Woodhall call am “Incredible,” Ronald McIntosh say “Unbelievable,” Steve Bunce say “Unforgettable.” Paul Smith on X write say, “Credit to Hrgovic. E too soon. We all bin get carried away with potential and talent, but if you no get engine and experience, you no fit compete at di top level.” Chris Eubank Jr also bin wonder why Moses gas out, say e need rethink im training camp.
Tony Bellew bin tweet say Moses go still become world champion, but e need learn how to pace imself for 12 rounds. “Once e learn dat, e go rule for a while,” Bellew write. One fan from Stoke on Trent say if Moses learn how to control im energy, e go be world champion by next summer.
For di post-fight interview, Hrgovic bin thank im coach Abel Sanchez and im manager. Frank Warren, im promoter, confirm say Hrgovic go fight Frank Sanchez next. Di new champion want unification fight, and Agit Kabayel bin come enter di ring to shake hands wit am.
Di fight bin hold for O2 Arena, and BBC Radio 5 Live pundits dey call am one for di history books. Hrgovic claim di IBF title, and e don become di first Croatian heavyweight champion. Moses still be young, 21 years old, and e get plenty time. But for now, Hrgovic don write im name for history book as di new heavyweight king.
