How many of Lewis' opponents would you favour to beat Hrgovic?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Unique Way, Jan 6, 2024.


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  1. Unique Way

    Unique Way Active Member Full Member

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    Lennox Lewis was undoubtedly ATG heavyweight, arguably the greatest HW of the last 30-35 years. Nobody can call his resume weak - he has fought in the very good era and while the biggest names in his resume were old/shot, he beat a sh1tload of very good fighters who were in their prime or close to it.

    But... Lets take one guy, not even a champion, just contender from the current era and match him against Lewis' opponents. Lets take Filip Hrgovic. How would he fare against the guys that Lewis has beaten? How many of big Brit's opponents would you favour to beat Croatian giant?

    I would confidently favor only one - Vitali Klitschko. Probably also the Holyfield from the rematch. Though I think stylistically Hrgovic was all wrong for old Holyfield, Evander's competitiveness against prime ATG HW in their rematch makes me think he would be able to edge Hrgovic. But I definitely won't be sure in such a result?

    Who else? I don't see anybody. Only Golota probably had the skills and tools but not the mentality to do it. I mean, he found the way to lose every single big fight against a guy with power. And I would confidently favor Hrgovic to beat other guys from Lewis' resume.

    So, aren't we underrating the current era? I'm pretty sure we are. It isn't bad at all. It's actually very good era. Yeah, Fury's antics hurts. Yes, promoters often aren't giving us the fights we want (but hell, didn't Newman and King kill the Lewis - Bowe and Lewis - Tyson fights in 1993 and 1996 respectively?) And yes, you can hate styles/personalities of some fighters. Or thier promoters. But talent-wise this era is VERY good
     
    Unique Way, Jan 6, 2024
    Unique Way, Jan 6, 2024
    #1
  2. KINGWILDER

    KINGWILDER Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Vitali Klitschko, Holyfield in both fights was also a better fighter than Hrgovic.

    Golota, Tua, and even Ruddock would be a challenge for Hrgovic, as would Mercer. If Hrgovic fought the same guys as Lewis, he would probably have around 6-7 losses imo.
     
    KINGWILDER, Jan 6, 2024
    KINGWILDER, Jan 6, 2024
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  3. TheShellofKell

    TheShellofKell Nakatani Future P4P #1 Full Member

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    All of them.
     
    TheShellofKell, Jan 6, 2024
    TheShellofKell, Jan 6, 2024
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  4. lepinthehood

    lepinthehood When I'm drinking you leave me well alone banned Full Member

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    Need to see more from Filip.

    Lewis blew out some big dangerous punchers in a few rounds.

    And Holyfield and Klitchko would be very heavy favourites.
     
    lepinthehood, Jan 6, 2024
    lepinthehood, Jan 6, 2024
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  5. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    If Hrgovic fights anyone at that level we can have the discussion, until then, not a chance.
     
    lufcrazy, Jan 6, 2024
    lufcrazy, Jan 6, 2024
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  6. Unique Way

    Unique Way Active Member Full Member

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    Golota - yes, I mentioned him. But he always found a way to lose big fights.

    Tua - no, I can't see him beating Hrgovic. Especially that Butterbean-like version of Tua that turned out against Lewis. Mercer? Probably.

    Ruddock? Too one-dimensional. Zhang has the same, if not better, power, but Chinese giant has better variety of attacks, more skilled and far more smarter than Ruddock. And MUCH bigger in addition to all that. And Hrgovic still edged him, even if barely.
     
    Unique Way, Jan 6, 2024
    Unique Way, Jan 6, 2024
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  7. Unique Way

    Unique Way Active Member Full Member

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    I would heavily favor Zhang to beat most of Lewis' opponents from his title fights
     
    Unique Way, Jan 6, 2024
    Unique Way, Jan 6, 2024
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  8. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    Until Zhang fights that many fights against people of that level we'll never know. At his age we likely never will.
     
    lufcrazy, Jan 6, 2024
    lufcrazy, Jan 6, 2024
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  9. Redbeard7

    Redbeard7 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Many would favour Zhang over Sanders, if Zhang's better then Hrgovic already probably has a better win on paper than Vitali.

    Hrgovic hasn't seemed all there mentally though. He'll need to sort that out if he wants a successful run as champion in the future.
     
    Redbeard7, Jan 6, 2024
    Redbeard7, Jan 6, 2024
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  10. Pepsi Dioxide

    Pepsi Dioxide Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Hrgovic has fought one decent contender, one. And we all thought that was a bad match going in because Zhang was unproven before and looked awful vs Forrest.

    Lot of fighters look like world beaters on the way up before they are tested a bunch.

    So at this point you have to think Klitschko, Tua, Golota, Grant, Tucker, McCall, Ruddock, Rahman, Briggs, Akinwande, Holyfield, Mercer, Bruno, Briggs I would favor over Hrgovic. I even think old Tyson could beat Hrgovic.

    You can't rate a guy highly on a controversial Zhang win and nothing else but tomato cans.

    I look toward to Hrgy proving me wrong.
     
    Pepsi Dioxide, Jan 6, 2024
    Pepsi Dioxide, Jan 6, 2024
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  11. Boxing Gloves

    Boxing Gloves Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Holyfield, Klitschko, Mercer and Ruddock I'd fancy to beat him.
     
    Boxing Gloves, Jan 6, 2024
    Boxing Gloves, Jan 6, 2024
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  12. 11player

    11player Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Vitaly, Holy, Mercer, I would favour over Hrgovic.

    Briggs, Tyson, Rahman, McCall, with a good chance.
     
    11player, Jan 6, 2024
    11player, Jan 6, 2024
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  13. KINGWILDER

    KINGWILDER Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It only takes one with Tua and he’s one tough dude, I could see that going either way. Ruddock was one dimensional but again Hrgovic has faced limited opposition at this point and should have lost to Zhang.

    I think Rahman and Briggs would have also had a good chance against him.
     
    KINGWILDER, Jan 6, 2024
    KINGWILDER, Jan 6, 2024
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  14. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Holyfield? Do you guys realize that version of Holyfield was 1 year away from struggling vs John Ruiz? I think Hrgovic would outwork him.
     
    dmt, Jan 6, 2024
    dmt, Jan 6, 2024
    #14
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  15. James Hudson

    James Hudson Active Member Full Member

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    Gary Mason
     
    James Hudson, Jan 6, 2024
    James Hudson, Jan 6, 2024
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