Seems that this is peddled everywhere now, lazy narrative. It was a close fight, where Zhang won a handful of rounds big and one knockdown. Hrgovic outjabbed and outlanded him and swept the last three rounds.
This is an example of the view that every close fight equals a robbery... depending on who you were rooting for. You see this early and often here. Hrgovic v Zhang was competitive and Filip nicked it.
Also it’s reflective of people not being able to or not wanting to score fights, and just relying on the more eye catching moments to make their decision.
There was a lot discusion about that already. I guess score depends on how person score this closer rounds. Imo Hrgovic win but for sure was very hard fight. Facts is he outlanded Zhang, was way more active (throw much more too). In my opinion knockdown for Zhang was pretty controversial too. People remeber this fight more for Zhang probably because: 1. Many expect that Filip should win this in better fashion 2. Zhang got more "spectacular" moments and heart Filip at last 2 time. 3. Replay and commentary of the fight was 100% on Zhang site. I never seen soo one sided replay in boxing. They show Zhang punches even in round 11 where he was hardly beaten whole round and he land probably 2 shots... For me that was no robbery at all. Zhang make better impresion but end of the day You win in boxing because You land more than opponent in more rounds (in Simple way) If I good remeber Filip saying that he is open on reematch even in China. Never seen Zhang talking about fight Hrgovic one more time. End of the day whatever we score this fight we all must agres that Chinese man is the one whos career go better way after their fight. Much, much better. He earn money, build position and again fight with top 10 dudes for good money. Filip? Wait, wait, wait and again wait and wait. Totally waste of time.
It was close - a real 50/50 kind of fight... In the end, I think Hrgovic just shaded it, but a Zhang win wouldn't have been criminal - going down as a UD, even if not a wide one, does flatter Hrgovic slightly, but it's not an incorrect decision. Given the hype, you'd think Hrgovic was the one who'd have gone on to do much more - he hasn't done anything more of note. Zhang hadn't achieved anything before this fight, but he then at least had the stones to fight a highly regarded (if very much overhyped) fringe contender in Joyce - and he won... It's a good job for both of them that he did, or they'd both have next to nothing to show for their careers to date. These guys both have paper thin resumes, though.
This content is protected This is a winner for this forum, but remember they said Parker will lose to Wilder, aswell that Joshua beats Usyk.
In the last round, they said Hrgovic needs to be carried by his team to his corner, while he walked away. They lied and completley ignored that Zhang was on the verge of death, holding the ropes - after turning his back to the opponent and sprinting away. This content is protected 11:10 Look at Zhang, he looks like he was near death - that is a man who won the fight, while hrgovic was raising his hand? Pay attention to the commentary.
They like to leave out that important bit about the "it wasn't a robbery" narrative. The problem with the outcome of the fight was that it was a UD. The most favourable card for Zhang gave Hrgovic 7 rounds. Two of them gave Hrgovic 8 rounds which just demonstrates an open bias in the scoring, hence it was a robbery: Leszek Jankowiak 112-115 Pawel Kardyni 113-114 Robin Taylor 112-115 The rest is just Hrgovic fan noise not wanting to accept he got gifted the decision
I felt Zhang won, but it was close and competitive. I wouldn’t call it a robbery, and if I have done so in the past I was definitely capping.