The referee stopped the fight in the ninth round – with the towel flying in at the same time – as an exhausted Itauma took punishment from his opponent.
Itauma was overwhelming favourite and many were expecting a quick victory, but the 21-year-old needed oxygen after the fight and was stretchered off and taken to hospital for checks.
The Kent fighter started strongly and was firmly in control early on – but his fast start proved his undoing.
Itauma was gasping between rounds as the Croatian took his best shots but kept coming.
The young fighter was soon in uncharted territory as he went past the sixth round for the first time in his career.
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