Itauma doesn't defend his body...

May be overstating here myself, but I also notice Itauma has a funny tendency to overreact to feints at times. It may not be an issue at all - just an obvservation. He could have some funny flaws that may be exposed when he steps up.

Great KO nevertheless even if Franklin was there to be a highlight reel.

 

Itauma has a bad gas he looked a bit withered by round 5 tank but with maturity he can grow relaxed and check his pace

 

He was also setting a blistering pace, one I think Kabayel would struggle with.

 

He’s got real Zhang vibes. Get through the first half of the fight and a good fighter will cash in.

The questions for me are whether he has a chin and whether he can build his gas tank.

 

That is unless he takes Kabayel's head off first. Which wouldn't surprise me.

 

Kabayel’s not really hard to hit, he’s just ridiculously tough which I think might be the game changer if he survives early.

 

Maybe why he's not taking the Gassiev fight for the WBA regular that was giftwrapped for him.

 

Kabayel does have a nice pace, but that's not what would cause Itauma the most problems, IMHO, even though he does look like his gas tank kinda sucks.

The real problem he'd have is that he hasn't shown he can fight any other way than standing off throwing against essentially heavy bags. Kid has never had to develop an inside game, learned how to clinch, etc. So I imagine Kabayel would do exactly what he did to Zhang after Zhang busted him up in the 1st round from middle distance. Stick his head in the kid's chest and go to work.

This is why guys have to be brought up slowly. Yeah, Itauma looks fantastic. It's easy to look fantastic when your opponents suck, they don't move, and they're terrified of you so they hardly throw a punch. You get to swing like crazy, throw fun combinations, not concern yourself with being defensively responsible, and then get a highlight knockout. But what happens when you fight a legit dude? One who backs you up and turns it into a brawl? Or what about a guy that constantly is on the move and doesn't just hang out right in front of you cowering? What are you gonna do then?

Kid has a lot of talent, but people need to pump the brakes.

 

And this is why Gassiev makes them uncomfortable

Gassiev crushes bodies

 

Well said.

 

Gassiev's ability is overblown. He knocked out a 44-year-old Pulev and is suddenly a top 10 heavyweight? I don't buy it. The same people criticizing Franklin as a journeymen think a 44 year old Pulev is suddenly the benchmark to crack the heavyweight top 10. Not to mention he was behind on all the scorecards before the KO. If he can get outboxed by Wallin, then his chances of beating Itauma are slim.

He lost every round to Usyk, too, other than testing Itauma's chin, which he probably wouldn't get near, it'd be a pretty futile matchup.

 

I guess you could say that, but Kabayel's resume isn't exactly shining here either.

 

But they don't want him. Warren was ready to sue to get Pulev first, and now that Gassiev has it, they are nowhere to be found. For a couple of years, WBA regular was going to be the first milestone...did you hear Gasseiv's name in Itauma's mouth today?

If Gassiev's chances are so slim, then why did the plan change?