Itauma (14-1, 12 KOs) began brilliantly and scored a second-round knockdown, though showed signs he was losing his shape overextending and missing power punches in the middle rounds.

Hrgovic (21-1, 16 KOs) absorbed his best and gained strength from seeing a prodigious talent, 13 years his junior, grow frustrated and increasingly tired.

In the end, experience proved pivotal in one of the best heavyweight fights we've watched for a while. Read Declan Taylor's report live from The O2 Arena here.

We have a new IBF heavyweight world champion, and highly-regarded head trainer Abel Sanchez gets his first aged 77 in the sport's glamour division too. Thanks for joining me tonight, I've been Mosope Ominiyi, think I need a lie-down and a detailed debrief on what we've just watched. Stay tuned as the post-fight reaction filters through.

2:29 is the official time of the stoppage.

Here's a reminder of what the Croatian said during the week: “I think I’m in a much different position [than Itauma] because of the experiences I went through, ups and downs in my life. I think I’m like a rock, stable, and nothing can move me. I don't care about fame, money or what people think. But we will see on Saturday.”

Thrilling end to a whirlwind evening! Filip Hrgovic told anyone that would listen, his experience would pay dividends. Itauma had never gone more than five rounds against anyone with true resistance (six, if you're counting two journeymen in 2023), punched himself out and what a turn of events it quickly proved to be here tonight.

Itauma in trouble, Hrgovic nails him with a series of right hands, he's dead tired..... needs the ropes to hold him up and Ben Davison has the towel in hand. More punches connect clean, it's all over! FILIP HRGOVIC IS A WORLD CHAMPION!

Itauma is visibly trying too hard to land a knockout punch, missing wildly and Hrgovic can smell blood!

Hrgovic begins the ninth LAUNCHING FORWARD with haymakers on his mind, is this a final hurrah or a twist in the tale?

Hrgovic looks jaded and isn't able to lift his hands fast enough to block thudding shots, relentless attacks making him bite on feints .... and now he's in SURVIVAL MODE! Less than a minute left in the round, his head has dropped ... now he's FIRING BACK! Another exhausting round, Itauma needs to keep his shape - easier said than done.

Itauma more demonstrative with his breaks between punches, though still forcing the issue and digging downstairs, to set up head shots.

A check on the punch stats: Itauma (110-of-261) more than double Hrgovic's connects through six rounds 110-of-261. The Croatian (48-of-225) isn't going anywhere though... as the punishment continues to pile up. Thudding shots, it's becoming more physically taxing for both and naturally, fatigue has set in.

Hrgovic absorbs a curling left hook, then more single shots as Itauma is clearly controlling the pace here. A reminder that this is now the longest he's gone in his professional career... as they trade bruising shots in the final 30 seconds. No-one can say we haven't seen Itauma chin-checked now, either!

The obligatory fight in the crowd grabs everyone's attention as the bell sounds, before Itauma's sharp shots bring the audience back to the main attraction. Hrgovic firing back admirably, while clearly behind ... Itauma tries to adjust his mouthguard and gets hit for it, then finishes the round with a beautiful uppercut! Woof.

Itauma circles Hrgovic intently, the longtime contender was first off his stool but now finds himself dancing to the youngster's tune as he eats a short right hand, then a body shot. Itauma blocks him inside, counters and while Hrgovic is showing more resistance ... this is bubbling up nicely.

Itauma has connected on 39-of-65, compared to just 1-of-21 for the Croatian per the DAZN broadcast. Better finish to another Itauma round for Hrgovic, who connects on two power punches with the 21-year-old pinned, ever so briefly, against the ropes. Predictably, the pace slowed a touch in that frame.

Another round and the youngster remains in the ascendancy. Hrgovic is bloodied around his left eye, steadily trying to get his own jab going in the opening minute ... as far as power punches landed, that tells its own story.

Itauma digs downstairs ... and then Hrgovic drops down to a knee momentarily after eating another short right-hand shot, as Foster counts a knockdown! Itauma resets himself, then rains down with a flurry, head-then-body, Hrgovic connects on a right hand and the younger man almost looks offended to have been caught by that, firing back with another stinging counter.

Itauma's head trainer Ben Davison reminds his charge there's no need to over-extend his jabs, such is the early success, they'll find a home as long as he doesn't telegraph them.

Hrgovic is already damaged to his left eye, he steps forward to close the distance too fast and gets countered. An exhausting opening frame for the Croatian as the O2 Arena crowd serenade Itauma.

Here we go then... Not even ten seconds into the contest and Itauma is soooooo fast! Hrgovic absorbs a body shot and almost immediately on the back foot ... the feints are fast, variety even more impressive. Two left hands puncture Hrgovic in his tracks, and he's second-guessing himself even more than you would've thought coming in.

Should we need them... (highly doubtful!) judges Oliver Brien, Phil Edwards and Daniel Sandoval are sitting ringside. Referee is Howard Foster, who many love to criticize for having a quick fight-ending trigger. Hopefully he's not a storyline tonight...

It's remarkable to think, this time two years ago, Itauma was blasting past Mariusz Wach inside two rounds in this very venue. Five fights later, he's now headlining here for the first time, and something tells me it won't be the last.

Almost national anthem time. Itauma's stablemate and former WBO titleholder Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs) is in agreement with Hamed, both predicting a stoppage for the 21-year-old inside six rounds.

There have been a series of notable names featuring, either on the broadcast or ringside tonight and that's usually no coincidence. Are you keeping up?

A commendable, albeit anticlimactic points win for Noakes against aged veteran Berinchyk. Threatened a stoppage with clever shots downstairs that ultimately didn't come, but a valuable ten rounds banked at a higher level than his second-round finish during a run-out on a small hall show in early May. Read Declan Taylor's report here.

Meanwhile, if you missed it earlier... here's the exchange which quickly became heated between Hysa and Kabayel.

That could easily fill a football stadium in Germany while the champion bides his time waiting for a unification.

As expected, the younger man is placing his punches and working more. As time wears on, the Ukrainian is increasingly second best with his output while Noakes has grown in terms of success to head-and-body.

Chief support time! Read THIS to get you ready for it...

Turns 42 next weekend and well, you can only beat what's in-front of you! Replays have shown him having a heated post-fight exchange with WBC beltholder Agit Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs), that's a storyline to keep an eye on.

While I was transcribing that quote ... Albanian heavyweight Nelson Hysa (25-0, 23 KOs) ends a near year-long layoff to flatten Thomas Narmo with a bruising overhand right moments into the second round of their scheduled 10-rounder. Another fast finish for the "Albanian Eagle", who will no doubt be seeking tougher challenges.

With that in mind, I have to share this zinger of a line Queensberry CEO George Warren told BBC's Steve Bunce this week in preparation for a main event everyone knows the outcome for, before it's even happened.

Here's a look at one half of the main event arriving earlier:

Ursu adds his seventh career finish and it comes seconds into the eighth frame. Vaughan boxed well in spots and was enjoying some success, though the cut over his eyebrow was a deep one and only getting worse.

The right decision in the end, as the "Moldovan Monster" will no doubt have some film study to analyse after that one. Can't afford to be getting tagged as frequently against heavier hitters as he steps up the levels.

Ursu is a vicious puncher and enjoying this scrap through five rounds. At the start of round six, referee Michael Alexander calls the ringside doctor to assess Vaughan's cut — a nasty one — somehow it's allowed to continue!

The champion's uncomfortably happy to absorb a punch, only to return three or four more in response. Surely this isn't going the distance? On they go, Ursu digging shots downstairs and the pair are a bloody mess. Wow.

Ursu-Vaughan is just minutes away ... former long-reigning featherweight king Naseem Hamed is on punditry duty tonight and believes it's only a matter of time before Itauma joins him in the Hall of Fame once all is said and done.

"I love the fact I was his favorite fighter, it's an honor. I know this is very early to say but he's a future Hall of Famer, and that's before he wins a world title. For me, he's going to make a statement and a half tonight, I can feel it."

Vianello looks a bit sheepish centre ring as both hands are raised, Swansea's Jolly proceeds to celebrate a resume-enhancing draw (on 15 days' notice no less!) with an elaborate dance routine.

Acquitted himself well in what was essentially supposed to be the Italian's showcase, though was defensively porous and punished for that in spells.

Meanwhile, Constantin Ursu is looking mean backstage before his maiden title defense. If you can get near a TV or device, I'd advise you to shortly. Beautiful, if a bit brutal at times to watch.

A potential upset is brewing to kick off the main card, with Italian heavyweight contender Vianello (14-3-1, 12 KOs) looking worse for wear after six competitive rounds on his Queensberry debut against Moses Jolly (12-0, 8 KOs).

Former WBO lightweight title challenger Sam Noakes (18-1, 16 KOs) will seek an emphatic win at world-level when facing former beltholder Denis Berinchyk (19-1, 9 KOs) on tonight's main card.

British, Commonwealth welterweight champion Constantin Ursu (15-0, 6 KOs) makes his first title defense against Ben Vaughan (12-2, 4 KOs) while Nelson Hysa and new Queensberry recruit Guido Vianello are both in action.

Fancy some compelling pre-fight reading to get the juices flowing? Click HERE.

Hello and welcome to The Ring's live blog commentary as Moses Itauma faces a career-best challenge against bullish fellow contender Filip Hrgovic. The recently-vacated IBF heavyweight crown awaits tonight's winner, as the sport's glamour division continues to shake out among the elite.

My name's Mosope Ominiyi and I'll be taking you through the evening's action in London, with Declan Taylor on-the-ground from The O2 Arena. For the first time in a while, there's a big fight feel ... perhaps accelerated by yesterday's histrionics at the weigh-in.

Hrgovic believes he'll humble a man 13 years his junior and he very well might. Yet the experienced Croatian has also conceded the savvy southpaw standing opposite him tonight may prove too fast and youthful to deal with.

"This is the biggest boxing country in the world, so it's easy for you guys to make superstars. I don't buy the story, the hype. If you beat me like you beat Demsey McKean or Franklin, amazing, handshake and respect, but I'm not buying that. We'll see," he said during a DAZN face-off featured video published earlier this month.

Itauma tipped the scales at 241.7 pounds on Friday, while Hrgovic was a trim 236.2lbs - the lightest he has weighed since August 2019, where he stopped journeyman Mario Heredia in Mexico. He doesn't need telling, the importance of being nimble on his feet against a hard-hitting youngster who doesn't box like a heavyweight.