If Itauma is ready for Hrgovic, he's ready for Parker

What has Parker done to be considered a better fighter than Hrgovic?

Both have close wins vs Zhang. Hrgovic beat Joyce, Parker was stopped by him. IMO they are on the same level.

Hrgovic, Parker, Joyce, Zhang, Chisora and Whyte from a few years ago are much of a muchness and around the exact same tier.

If anything, I put Kabayel above all of them, and the only other real big threat to Moses other than Usyk (and Fury).

 

Well Parker deserves a title shot?

 

HRGOVIC WINS
Zhang
Joyce
Adeleie

PAKRER WINS
Ruiz
Wilder
Zhang
Bakole
Chisora
Meehan
Dimentrenko
Botha
Takam
Leapai
Fa
Hugh Fury

Hrgovic never been a champion
Parker about to be elevated to two-time titlist status

Parker considerably ahead in status. You can have your opinion, no problem. But Parker gets the benefit of the doubt, here.

 

I think it's more about recent form. Parker's last three fights have been wins over Wilder, Zhang and Bakole. They are all big names, if somewhat flawed. Hrgovic recent fights have been wins over Adeleye, Joyce and De Mori along with a KO loss to Dubois. That isn't quite on the same level as Parker. Also, Hrgovic is seen as pretty one dimensional while Parker has a skill set that most likely would give Itauma more issues.

 

Parker is much more deserving and ahead resume wise. More depth, and experience

 

Parker does just about everything better except take a punch, although he has a pretty solid chin himself.

 

Parker is supposedly too good and there's no reason not to fight Itauma because he would be easy to deal with, Hrgovic should just go after making as much money as possible and retire...

 

I think it's fair to consider Parker a few notches higher in the current heavyweight rankings. He's coming off three major victories (Wilder, Zhang, and Bakole, who was defeated by TKO in two rounds) and holds the interim WBO title. Meanwhile, Hrgovic lost by stoppage to Dubois and then defeated Joyce and Adeleye on points. The Croatian is climbing the rankings and will likely now fight a stronger fighter than the last two. I think Hrgovic would be a good opponent for Itauma, who would beat him by stoppage in my opinion.

 

Come on now, we can't pretend like it was the same Joyce.

But just to list a couple things that Parker has the Hgrovic doesn't that could give Itauma trouble.

- faster hands
- negative pressure
- better gameplan
- fight pace management
- more stamina
- more experience

 

This.

Parker is a legit contender, with viable paths to victory against other contenders.

Hrgovic is super durable and decently skilled, but his glaring weaknesses (stamina and mediocre power) mean he's not great on cards and not really packing a punchers chance... Fix either of those and we'll talk.

 

Who doesn't beat wilder at this point? Adeleye would beat wilder at this point. He is shot and unmotivated for years. People just hold onto their old valuations. Wilder was a good opponent when he still had the will and conviction. Fury went through a lot of trouble with him. But not anymore. I consider it even an easier win than kabayel had against a seemingly injured sanchez.

Bakole had 24 hours notice and was grossly out of shape and parker hit him on the left side of the head when aiming for the right. The ko was more of bakole's doing than parker's. But parker looked really strong there that's true.

Ruiz was a split decision and many are unhappy about it.

Chisora is old, but still bringing it.

He looked really bad against hughie fury, which he shouldn't have.

Basically everything below bakole on your list is not of interest. And fights that are five years ago hardly deserve to be used as an argument for current comparisons. (See wilder)

Btw hrgovic lost against zhang and to me the joyce fight was very close with many rounds lacking activity of hrgovic.

Parker is ahead of hrgovic and more likely to win against itauma on points, because he has higher activity and fights more consciously than hrgovic who often falls back into sleepwalk-fighting.

But from a risk standpoint from itaumas perspective there actually isn't much of a difference. He boxes both their ears off and the only danger lies in the later rounds when stamina kicks in. Neither hrgovic nor parker are punchers and their stamina is not a lot different.

He has to watch out for sneakyness more against Parker, but as long as his stamina is fine he will be fine I think.

With kabayel on the other hand I think if itauma doesn't get him out of there in 3-4 rounds the body shots will add up and it will be easier and easier for kabayel to score them. Kabayel has good positioning, chin, poise and guard so it shouldn't be too easy to end the Fight quickly.

 

To put this in perspective:

With a different landscape we wouldn't be arguing about that comparison because both belong at around the #5-#10 spot of a decent heavyweight era. Usyk cleaned out the division and kabayel and parker are what's left with itauma coming up.

 

Yeah, Croatian is definitely better than Parker.

Parker only got a belt because he fought Ruiz who beat nobody, after Fury scattered the belts. It's really that simple. And that's why he never got one again.
Croatian also would have beaten that old Wilder and of course he beat Zhang too.
We don't really know what Dubious would have done with Parker but I suspect he would have KO'd Parker.

Whenever you think Parker is really good I want you to remember that a very old Chisora almost beat him, Joyce destroyed him and his only win over a prime fighter considered good is Ruiz.

It's all hype. Here's the reality of where he sits in the mix of recent years.

AJ beat him easily.
Fury would have beaten him, and Parker admits that.
Wilder would have KO'd him earlier.
Joyce did beat him.
Young Chisora likely beats him based on what happened.
Whyte beat him, at worst had a draw basically with the headbutt.

I mean, that's not a top fighter.

 

A more realistic question is, is Itauma ready for either of them?

This unnessary impatience to push the 20 year old too far too soon is amusing.

In any case, Parker is Usyk's mandatory and should be fighting him next. Time for the WBO to ensure that fight gets made or strips Usyk.