By never be the same, he could get sparked by guys outside the top fifty and look like a shell of whatever current level he's operating at now (regardless of how high or low you rate him). You just never know.
more like, his recovery will be tested. Zhang is like Wilder was in his prime — no chin can hold up to a clean shot. Question is, when Zhang knocks Kabayel down and hurts him, does he get up and if so how quickly does he recover and get back in the fight? look at what Parker went through to get that win. don’t get me wrong. I think Kabayel will take this one. But he’s getting knocked down a time or two.
The wins over Sanchez and Mak were impressive not just because of who he beat but it's the manner in which he did so. He blew through them effortlessly and stopped them in one-sided and destructive fashion. And it's his all round skill level which impresses me. He can fight/box equally well on the front foot and backfoot and he's fluid and does everything so smoothly and naturally. And he can punch, take a good shot, has a great engine, and he's an excellent body puncher. The way he switches from head to body, body to head is top class. How high his ceiling is remains unknown as of now but he's not some manufactured can-crushing unskilled hype job. He can flat-out fight and he has very good skills. If he gets knocked out by Big Bang it won't prove he's a hype job. Big Bang is way bigger than him and possesses devastating power in both hands. He's arguably the hardest puncher in the division and it's a very strong argument and if he catches anyone right sans the iron-jawed Hrgovic he can lay them out on their back or face.
Hrgović deserves some damn respect for taking all of these shots from Zhang and Dubois and being able to withstand them all. The one knockdown he had was not legal.
He has the best chin in the division. Aside from taking 12 rounds of Big Bang's bombs and the best Dubois had to offer, he was never dropped in the amateurs and even in sparring he's shared the ring with a whole bunch of the biggest punchers out there in Wlad, The Dosser, Haye, Dubois etc. and was never dropped.
"Not just" implies that who they were is impressive - that's precisely my point, it's not. Yes, he made it look pretty easy, but it'd be more a red flag if he didn't than proof that he's special because he did. Just consider how many fighters look great (or at least highly effective) until they face someone decent... Again, though, that's easier when you're fighting mediocrities - Luis Ortiz looked great against bums, but he was never any kind of legit contender by a long shot, and couldn't beat the dosser (who was always nothing special by contender standards) in two attempts. He looks decent, sure - I've just seen it all before where the level of competition changes everything... And I know you have, too. Zhang isn't all that - he can bang for a few rounds, then he gasses badly. If Kabayel loses, he needs to take more good fights to prove he's NOT a hypejob - it doesn't automatically mean he is, but he's not done nearly enough to prove he isn't.
After Bakoli breaks Ajogba in half...Kabayel vs Bakoli is the fight I need personally....FIRE!!!!! This content is protected
Agree on Filip. But I have an important query. Do you plan on replacing Gainsbourg in your avatar, if only temporarily? If so, I suggest a prime BB
Kabayel is the HW I respect 2nd behind only Usyk. Kabayel never had any advantage over anyone and he's now one victory away from fighting for the undisputed championship. He's been the B side his whole career and has never given up. I have such respect for that. If he loses to Zhang, it takes nothing away from what he's accomplished so far. Kabayel is as legit as they come in the HW division.
Kabayel has to win on Saturday. Otherwise, his ceiling pretty much stops here. He's been a pro for 14 YEARS. He's only averaged about one fight a year for the last eight years. He still hasn't fought for a heavyweight belt yet. We all cheered his win over Makhmudov, but as Makhmudov's collapse continues, that win is going to look about as good as a win over Adam Kownacki looks now. Kabayal has to win. This is the moment. Turki doesn't give guys who lose too many chances. And Agit doesn't fight often enough to claw his way back. If Kabayel fails Saturday, he tumbles back down into the mix and someone else gets a turn. So, this is kind of the moment for him. A "must win."
I've always said Hrgovic has the best chin of the modern day Heavyweights it's absolute granite IMO. It's a pity every other attribute is only average.
I just think he lacks that real fire in your belly needed to be a real upper echelon fighter. I mean he did beat Zhang which aged well but I think it was more due to his incredible durability that he just wore out Zhang who has no gas tank after 6 rounds. You look at Hrgovic and physically he looks the part and he's durable as hell so that should be a recipe for success but there's just something missing with Hrgovic.