Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic has moved a significant step closer to a mouth-watering August showdown with rising British-Nigerian star Moses Itauma after stopping Dave Allen inside three rounds at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster on May 16, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
- +Hrgovic sets up Itauma showdown in Manchester
The contest was largely one-sided from the opening bell, with Hrgovic, 33, landing consecutive right hands at will while Allen, 34, struggled to mount any meaningful resistance.
The contest was largely one-sided from the opening bell, with Hrgovic, 33, landing consecutive right hands at will while Allen, 34, struggled to mount any meaningful resistance. The Croatian’s superior class was evident throughout, as he switched between head and body with ease, dropping Allen with a left hook in the third round before the referee Steve Grey controversially ruled it a slip.
British Slovakian Boxer Moses Itauma reacts during a press conference, in central London, on October 23, 2024, ahead of his undercard heavyweight world championship against Australian boxer Demsey McKean, taking place on December 21, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Allen climbed back to his feet, but his corner had seen enough, with trainer Jamie Moore throwing in the towel at 2:37 of the third round as Hrgovic continued to unload punishment. The stoppage drew boos from the Doncaster crowd, but Allen, typically gracious in defeat, defended Moore’s call.
“Jamie is like my brother, I love him to death. These are my family. If Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis say it’s enough, then it’s enough. Thank you for looking after me,” Allen said.
Hrgovic, now 20-1 with 15 stoppages, offered a brief apology to the partisan crowd before attention quickly shifted to what comes next.
“Sorry, guys, I know I’m not the favourite guy here. Thank you, Dave Allen, for this great event,” he said.
Reports had already placed Hrgovic as the frontrunner to face Itauma in August, and Queensberry Promotions’ George Warren confirmed after the fight that the bout is close to being finalised, with Manchester now set to host the contest rather than the O2 Arena in London as was initially anticipated.
“Moses is fighting up in Manchester, we’re going to announce it,” Warren told Sky Sports. “He’s fighting a top 10 heavyweight; we expect to get the fight we want to make over the line. Again, a great heavyweight fight. This division is on fire.”
Hrgovic also indicated he was ready to sign immediately said, “Moses Itauma, anyone, I’ll have a chat with my team. I don’t think there are any cuts. I’ll sign the contract now,” he said.
Promoter Frank Warren described the proposed August 8 contest as a massive examination for the unbeaten Itauma.
“I would like to see that fight happen. There are negotiations going on, and I would love to see that fight happen. It is a massive test for Moses and a massive fight. That has got fight written all over it,” Warren said.
The 21-year-old Itauma, who holds the WBO mandatory challenger status and is ranked number one with the WBA, has stopped 12 of his 14 professional opponents and became the first man to stop the durable Jermaine Franklin Jr in March — a feat neither Anthony Joshua nor Dillian Whyte could manage.
Hrgovic’s only professional defeat came against Daniel Dubois in Saudi Arabia in June 2024, and he has since bounced back with wins over Joe Joyce and David Adeleye, making him the most credible opponent Itauma has faced in his young career.
