Could Moses Itauma have outpointed Hrgović if he didn’t chase the Finish?

I see it similar to you.

The mind games made a difference. Itauma is only 21 with just a few fights mostly against subpar opposition. But he is a massive talent.

In a scenario where he is sparring hrgovic for 12 rounds full intensity no head guard, essentially a full fight but without audience, build up, mental games or anything - I think he might have been fine.

I don't think it is his cardio as much as the fact he is young and was shook a little from the build up with lots of media etc. The previous two fights weren't enough to train for that.

Anyone who has been in the ring knows that fight night is different from sparring. There are super fit guys that are totally spent after two rounds of a fight. So much adrenaline and nervous energy.

So depending on how he takes this experience and I hope it is not a trauma but something he can overcome, it might solve this issue or make it worse

 

The collapse from him suggests that he has been cutting corners in camp and not working hard enough on his cardio.

You should not be gassing that hard in a fight where you have been on top for the vast majority of it.

I will be interested to see if in future interviews it comes out, he has been skipping his runs and if during camps he decides whether he does work on the bike or in the pool.

If he wants to come back from this he needs to work harder to get fit.

 

It smacks of someone who is not putting the work in.

Does the lazy he way he talks also translate into someone who is only giving it 60% effort in camp? And fakes injuries to skip his morning run?

 

Yeah I figured he knew he was gassed and thought "**** it" and just went for it. Mad respect for that, even if it would have been much smarter to no mas it