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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Donald McRae

‘I had a headache for days’: Hrgovic reveals brutal toll of Itauma world title fight

Filip Hrgovic poses after winning the IBF world heavyweight title against Moses Itauma.
Filip Hrgovic said he ‘received a lot of shots and was bruised’ during his win against Moses Itauma. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

Filip Hrgovic, the new IBF world heavyweight champion, has offered a candid insight into the ordeal he endured before beating Moses Itauma in a shock stoppage victory last month, revealing he absorbed so many heavy punches in the first eight rounds that he felt headaches for a number of days afterwards.

“I felt fucked up,” said the 34-year-old Croat. “I received a lot of shots and I was bruised. I had a bit of a headache for a few days. On the Wednesday after the fight I was back in the gym, working out already, but for a few days I felt really tired and bruised, with some headaches.”

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