Assuming Itauma is not packing unforeseen glass would you pick him to beat Hrgovic next?

They need to line up someone like Hrgovic next. Warren has him destroying guys nowhere near his level, and it'll start to become counterproductive for his development. He beats Hrgovic easily, I think someone like Gasiev is a great fight.

 

We haven't seen Itauma out of the second round yet, and I have to say that Hrgovic will at least make it to the third considering his iron chin. Itauma has great timing and composure and punishes even tiny mistakes that his opponent makes. I'd give Hrgovic enough credit that he will keep it together enough to reach the later rounds, in which case I'm not convinced Itauma has shown us enough to warrant picking him over a more proven and experience contender.

Also we haven't see Itauma take any punches, or get his chin tested yet, Hrgovic has a laser of a right hand, and although he is relatively basic and straightforward, he does it well. Though Hrgovic does sometimes put himself in a bad position over his front foot which is something Itauma can punish.

Overall, I'd have to give it to the more proven fighter, but wouldn't be surprised if Itauma finds a way. There is no need to rush Itauma atm, he is only 20 and its better to bring him slowly and find his level rather than throw him in there with someone better which carries a lot of risk.

 

Once in a generation talent. Honestly have no idea, the fact we're talking about it says something

 

Even if he has a chin of granite he might have a gas tank even worse than Hrgovic and fade.

I'm usually not impressed by fighters who just blow people away and dominate like he does. I didn't rate the likes of Anderson, Sanchez, Ajagba, Makhmudov etc. But Itauma from what I have seen is clearly more skilled than any of these fighters. The speed, the movement, the counter punching, he's not your typical, fast and powerful fighter who relies solely on their physical attributes, he actually can box and has skills.

But that doesn't mean I'd favour him over the more tested Hrgovic. I wouldn't right him off, because he could be a genuine world class fighter but he's done nothing to prove he belongs at the world level yet.

There's too many unanswered questions. I'd like to see him in with someone who is durable and can take him late into a fight and also push the pace and force him to actually fight and not simply walk in the ring and dominate from the opening bell to the moment the ref waives it off. Let's see he handles adversity in the moment.

 

No. Itaumas 20 years old and Hrgovic is a proven elite fighter. Even if he ends up being better than Hrgovic this is not the time. Hrgovic would be a big leap from what hes been facing.

 

He's not elite, but that's a stiff test for Itauma, should probably wait a year for that one

 

With a big huge head like that, I doubt he has a glass chin.

 

I mean, if you want to give Ituama a REAL test, Hrgovic is the exact guy to do it. Granite chin and a laser beam right hand. Ituama isn’t knocking him down easily, and Ituama is absolutely going to eat a bunch right hands. If it turns out that Ituama has a weak chin, or can’t recover well from being tagged good, or can be broken down, Hrgovic will expose it.

better move up would be someone durable but less dangerous. Wallin.

 

Hrgovic has an elite chin and an elite right hand. He has **** all else, but those two traits make him an issue for someone as early on as Ituama.

 

Didn't him survivin Zhang take any doubts?

 

Like most Itauma passes the eye test for me.
Can't wait to see how he goes over the next few years.
I don't think I'd pick him over Hrgovic right now but it also wouldn't surprise me if he beat him.
Be interesting to see him get some rounds in with someone that control him with reach, or get him fighting at a range he isn't comfortable with and see how he responds to it. Wouldn't mind someone hitting him a couple of times as well just to see what happens but he doesn't look like he wants to make that easy.

 

I just rewatched the fight. Man Ituama is so twitchy with great reflexes. When he's throwing off instinct -- like that little hop back right hook he did to end the fight -- his hands are incredibly fast. Just off an eye test, he's got the exact speed/power combo of Mike Tyson, except without the height/reach issues.

Issue I noticed this time I didn't the first -- why was he breathing so hard after one round? Sitting in his corner, he looked like he'd just fought six rounds, not one. That's not a good sign. I hope his trainers are noticing this and making him bust ASS with conditioning to try to rectify this.

 

Because he beat a footballer?

Premature ejaculators everywhere, fapping yourselves over this guy.

Let’s see him in with somebody who is not a stiff before we dry ourselves out, yeah?

 

Yeah I just watched it again too hahaha
Yep he's all that, I was loving the feints and how posiitive he was fighting that first round as well.
I totally missed that but your right, he was sucking in some big breaths all right.
Reckon he skimped on the road work? Bit weird for a young guy at the start of his career.