Filip Hrgovic describes days of headaches after Itauma title victory

Filip Hrgovic has described suffering headaches for several days after the victory over Moses Itauma that made him IBF world heavyweight champion last month. In an interview reported by the Guardian on Wednesday, the 34-year-old Croatian said the physical toll of the contest left him too exhausted to celebrate, despite securing the title with a ninth-round stoppage.

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Hrgovic said he absorbed numerous punches during the opening eight rounds and felt bruised and tired afterwards. Rather than mark the win with his customary trip to McDonald's, he went home to rest. He said he returned to the gym on the Wednesday after the fight, while describing the days immediately following the bout as a difficult recovery period.

The champion's account also underlined how much trouble Itauma caused him before the finish. Hrgovic said the 21-year-old Briton's combination of size, speed and timing was unlike anything he had previously encountered in the ring. He acknowledged that Itauma had outboxed him, saying he remained frustrated by that aspect of a fight he ultimately won. The Guardian reported that Itauma faded after maintaining a rapid early pace and was overwhelmed in round nine.

Hrgovic attributed the outcome to experience and mentality rather than a lack of physical fitness on Itauma's part. Responding to discussion of Itauma's pre-fight comments about not having sparred for 12 consecutive rounds, he said the younger heavyweight had been physically prepared. In Hrgovic's assessment, conditioning alone did not explain what happened when the contest became more demanding.

He nevertheless offered a strong endorsement of Itauma's boxing ability, while making clear that any prediction about his future depended on how he handled the defeat. Hrgovic said retaining confidence and recovering mentally would be central to a successful return. His assessment was conditional, not a claim that Itauma's response to the setback had already been established.

Hrgovic said his own ambition is to unify the heavyweight division and remain a champion for as long as possible. He also raised the possibility of facing former world kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's expected fight with Tyson Fury in Cardiff on 11 December. The Guardian described that matchup as a possibility; Hrgovic did not present Verhoeven as a confirmed opponent.