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

Itauma’s inexperience against Balogun was obvious from a mile away. When Balogun tried to rough him up, you could see Itauma get flustered, unsure how to respond. They’re padding Itauma’s résumé with a string of knockouts, but constantly ending fights in the first or second round isn’t helping his development—he’s winning without really learning to box. I think he’ll be badly exposed when he meets a seasoned opponent who actually knows how to box.

 

Keep him fighting regularly, 6-8 fights a year, build him up the slow way instead of rushing him.
Old man Foreman fought everybody and their old uncle when he returned. He used it to polish his skills and work on his new more relaxed approach. Itauma is only 20,besides from McKean he hasnt fought anybody who could provide a test. I hope Warren lets him mature with regular fights instead of letting him fight once in 5or,6 months...there was only one Mike Tyson, no need to try and let Itauma copy him, he is no where near the level Mike was when he was 20.

 

Huge head also means a large area to hit.

 

i would pick him to win now, but i was never impressed with hrgovic. and this is assuming the kid has the stamina of a 20 yo. not a middle aged man. although he does have technical flaws that can get him hurt, i dont think hrgovic is the guy to do it.
itauma swings wide when throwing his left hand and he doesnt defend. so he can be easily timed with short right hooks. balogun saw that last night and tried to time him. he was successful catching him, just didnt have the pop to make it an issue. the second knock down is a good example of balogun timing him with that right hook, but itauma simultaneously was timing him with his own right hook and thats the one that mattered. even in the 3rd knock down balogun was hit while trying to get that right hook in there.
itauma has great reflexes and good timing. he has flaws, but the ones ive noticed can be fixed. if he can fight hard for 12 rds, hes gonna be a problem at hw.

 

We don't know about his stamina and chin but that slip/check hook was nice.

 

You tryin to say with the huge head he’s on steroids?

 

He’s been the distance couple of time so he must have been outta the second round in those fights

 

Exactly right, I think Moses does check a lot of boxes visually speaking, but I need to see him in a real tussle where he throws his load and a guys still there and he has to come back . Fights like that are where a champions metal is forged.

 

Haha no - though it wouldn't surprise me, they're all doing it.

No I just meant that HWs with that type of frame generally tend to be quite sturdy in the chin department

 

No fighter who is yet to win even a version of a world title should be ever classed as 'Elite'. The only Elite level HW right now is Usyk, with Dubois maybe knocking on the door....and that's it. Parker is hovering also

 

When you've got an 18 stone lump coming at you full tilt, swinging for the fences, it's not surprising you'll look a bit dishevelled and disorganised.....I present to you Usyk V Chisora for the first 4 rounds

 

The kid has a massive, powerful right hook; he may be right handed but fighting as a southpaw.

He's a child. Needs to marinate a couple years.

 

I reckon he has a bad gas tank. He's definitely overweight looking at his frame, and he was huffing very hard between rounds.

I reckon he has a bad gas tank. He looks overweight looking at his frame, and he was huffing very hard between rounds. He definitely skilled, but most any decent heavyweight would look good against these 40 year old inactive part-time boxers they keep putting him in with. They're moving him slow for a reason, I think.

 

Agreeing generally with folks here. Itauma and (importantly) his team shouldn't try to rush things. Berlanga (another early-round KO king) gave a stout showing vs. Canelo but he was thrown into that fight too soon.

But Itauma shows some impressive handspeed.