Hrgovic was a total disappointment.

116-113 isn't even a possible score card. 9-3 Hrgovic (lol)=116-111 and 8-4 Hrgovic (lol)= 115-112, there is no 116-113

 

With 10-10 rounds and 8 point round due to knock down it is.

Granted most judges have no even rounds philosophy so I understand the cards swinging one or the other way depending on their preference in some close rounds.

 

He didn't like it when Zhang forced him on the back foot and landed combinations. Seemed to just switch off completely and have no answer except get to the bell and survive. He's lucky Zhang is 39 and not able to keep the same pace for 12.

 

Way more than Hrgovic

 

you are correct it wasn’t a KD

 

The 37 year old is extremely underwhelming and overrated.

 

The first rd knockdown was an obvious rabbit punch. Zhang did much better than I anticipated. I had the fight a draw but could see Hrgovic getting the nod.

 

I thought Hrgovich lost but to his credit he closed well and it was close. No problem with the decision.

He has two massive problems to fix:

(1) Vary his offensive attack, which is very basic and predictable
(2) Mind his defense

He's better than he showed in that fight but was over-introduced on this forum. He's certainly no one to run scared from.

 

Turning his back like he did reminded me of Tommy Morrison turning his back on George Foreman.

And watching the Hrgovic-Zhang fight then Usyk-Joshua and now I fully understand when Timothy Bradley says "there are levels to this game".

 

Zhang vs Dubois would be another great fight. Hope they see the love for Zhang and show him some sugar.

 

Not really all that debatable. He came away with it the last 3 rounds much like Usyk did with Joshua.

Hardly any better than what Hrgovic has done and he's 37. Last few years have been a total waste for Hrgovic due to poor management and him being ducked by countless top contenders, but he's 30 and not 37. Way more intangibles and skill than the slow and crude Joyce. Sleepy Joe Parker will likely upset him if he doesn't fall asleep for too long during the fight.

 

Dubois the bodybuilder caused the molasses wader a ton of issues. If he had even slightly better boxing fundamentals he would have probably won the fight. Post Klitschko and Ortiz Jennings who was also coming off a stoppage loss to Rivas hung tough and hurt the overrated Joyce to the body as well, had that fight closer than what the judges did.

 

I had Hrgovic winning a close fight. I had Zhang up by 1 rd after rd 9 but he lost the fight on my card in the last 3 rds as he simply didn't do enough and I was rooting for Zhang.

I've never been sold on Hrgovic, while I don't think he's half as bad as say Ajagba or Yoka who I have been big critics off, I wasn't as impressed by him as some were on here even before he started looking like he had regressed. He's never had any head movement, he's never been much of a mover and his attacks have always been predictable, he just uses his left to post, frame and even manipulate the guard of opponent to set up his right hand and that's his whole style.

But having said that I don't think it's all negative. He showed a good chin against a big puncher, not great but it's not glass. He had to dig deep to grind out this win which suggests he has the mental fortitude required for when he moves up to a higher level. I thought he moved OK on the back foot, better than I expected, though clearly he needs to work on boxing on the back foot, but at least he's not a slow footed plodder as I had suspected before.

So right now I think there's a big question mark over Hrgovic. He's in a similar position to Parker after he struggled with Takam. A top prospect who was made to look beatable. Maybe Hrgovic learns from this and improves or maybe he has maxed out his potential already and we see him have a similar career trajectory as Parker which isn't terrible but would be seen as a failure based on his likely ambition.