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🇭🇷 Croatia /Sports

Filip Hrgović’s brother: I screamed so much my stomach started hurting, and our mother cried

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Filip Hrgović’s family and coaching team rushed into the ring after he knocked out Moses Itauma at London’s O2 Arena.
  • His brother Matija said the early rounds were difficult to watch but believed Itauma became psychologically tired when Hrgović refused to fall.
  • Hrgović’s sister Marta and other relatives cried with happiness after the victory.

Matija Hrgović screamed instructions from the second row at London’s O2 Arena, then rushed into the ring to embrace his brother. “I screamed so much my stomach started hurting,” he recalled, describing the tension of watching Filip Hrgović endure the early rounds against Moses Itauma.

Matija, a former boxer, sat near Filip’s wife Marinela and their younger sister Marta. He shouted for his brother not to lower his hands, to leave the corner and to keep moving. The opening rounds were painful to watch, he said, but he still believed the fight could change because Filip understood what was happening in the ring.

Matija thought Itauma’s surprise at Hrgović’s resistance eventually worked against the younger fighter. “Itauma was surprised that Filip did not fall, and by everything he could withstand. I think that psychologically wore him down,” he said.

I screamed so much my stomach started hurting. It was very difficult for me to watch those first rounds, but when I saw that he understood what was happening in the ring, I still had hope that something would change and that the fight could turn around.

· Matija HrgovićHe described watching his brother struggle in the opening rounds.

In the eighth round, both fighters began to stagger. Matija saw an opening when Itauma appeared tired, while he believed Filip remained focused and unwilling to give up. He joined the trainers Hasan, Čordaš and Božić in the ring after the knockout.

Marta could not stop crying tears of happiness. Their family tried to steer her from tears toward celebration, while older brother Ivan Hrgović also watched the fight with tears in his eyes. The family had received reassuring updates from 18-year-old Antonio, who was in London in his uncle’s corner. Antonio had also reported that preparations at Filip’s training base in Big Bear, California, were going according to plan under trainer Abel Sanchez.

Itauma was surprised that Filip did not fall, and by everything he could withstand. I think that psychologically wore him down.

· Matija HrgovićHe offered his view of what changed the fight.
About this summary

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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