Moses Itauma has been given the all-clear and is now recuperating at home with his family after a precautionary trip to hospital.
The 21-year-old from Chatham was stretchered from the ring at The O2 Arena on Saturday evening following his ninth-round stoppage loss to Filip Hrgovic in their vacant IBF heavyweight title contest.
The young fighter’s departure on a stretcher prompted immediate concern, but he was discharged after medical checks confirmed no serious issues.
“Moses has gone to the hospital for a check-up,” promoter Frank Warren confirmed. “It’s precautionary that he’s gone to the hospital. That’s what we always do to make sure, because the most important thing is the boxer’s health.”
Itauma had entered the bout unbeaten in 14 professional fights, with ambitions of becoming the second youngest heavyweight world champion in history behind Mike Tyson.
The contest had been billed as “Witness History,” and Itauma appeared destined to deliver on that promise during a blistering opening.
He controlled every round through the first half of the bout, flooring Hrgovic with a knockdown in the second and unleashing a sustained assault of heavy shots across seven rounds.
Yet the experienced 34-year-old Croatian refused to buckle, absorbing everything the young Briton threw at him.
Having never previously been taken beyond the sixth round in his career, Itauma’s energy reserves ran dry as the eighth round unfolded. Hrgovic seized his moment.
By the ninth, Itauma could barely remain upright, swinging without accuracy as he lurched around the ring. Trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel at the same moment referee Howard Foster moved to halt proceedings.