Filip Hrgovic Batters Allen, Sets Up Itauma Showdown

Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic moved to the brink of a high-stakes summer showdown with British-Nigerian sensation Moses Itauma after crushing Dave Allen inside three rounds in Doncaster on May 16.

Hrgovic was in control from the first bell at the Eco-Power Stadium, firing clean right hands through Allen’s guard and forcing the Englishman onto the back foot early. Allen struggled to respond as the Croatian picked his shots with ease and steadily broke him down.

The finish came in the third round when Hrgovic floored Allen with a left hook, although referee Steve Grey controversially ruled it a slip. Moments later, Allen’s corner stepped in to end the punishment, with trainer Jamie Moore throwing in the towel at 2:37 of the round.

The stoppage was met with boos from the home crowd, but Allen immediately defended the decision.

“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, briefly addressed the hostile atmosphere before attention quickly shifted to a looming clash with Itauma.

“Sorry, guys, I know I’m not the favourite guy here. Thank you, Dave Allen, for this great event,” he said.

Momentum is now building towards an August fight with Itauma, one of the fastest-rising names in the heavyweight division. George Warren confirmed negotiations are progressing, with Manchester expected to stage the contest instead of London’s O2 Arena.

“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 signalled he was ready to finalise the deal without delay.

“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 believes the proposed August 8 bout would be a defining test for the unbeaten Itauma.

“I would like to see that fight happen. Negotiations are 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.

Itauma, 21, has quickly established himself as one of heavyweight boxing’s brightest prospects. The WBO mandatory challenger and WBA number one contender has stopped 12 of his 14 opponents, including Jermaine Franklin Jr in March, becoming the first man to halt the durable American inside the distance.

Neither Anthony Joshua nor Dillian Whyte managed that feat.

Hrgovic’s lone professional defeat came against Daniel Dubois in Saudi Arabia in June 2024, but the 33-year-old has rebuilt momentum with victories over Joe Joyce and David Adeleye.

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