Cruiserweight and Heavyweight thread.

I hope not. It was a KO 7 victory so maybe he still has something left.

 

Filip Hrgovic stopped late-replacement Emir Ahmatovic by 3rd round TKO. Hrgovic dropped his opponent once in the 2nd round and twice in the 3rd round.

Ahmatovic replaced intended opponent Scott Alexander only yesterday. I have not come across an explanation for Alexander's sudden departure from the card...which means it is likely more intriguing than the actual fight was, itself.

I have an uneasy feeling that Hrgovic will remain "on call for an eliminator" until the Fury-Joshua-Usyk affair sorts itself out. Depending on how that goes, I suspect that Joe Joyce will also get a look before Hrgovic. We will see. My fingers are crossed that some sort of interesting fight can be arranged for Hrgovic in the interim...

 

Should just go to cruiser. This ain't the mighty Usyk division when the cruisers were better than the heavies. It is pretty much back to being crap with the exception of Breidis, Okolie, and about three other promising by unheralded guys.

 

"Cassius Chaney looks like a fighter who overthinks things." I watched that fight and wasn't quite sure why Chaney was fighting as he was, but in retrospect those words sum it up perfectly.

 

Seems logical. Babic fights at around 215 lbs - making CW seems do-able but Babic is built somewhat stocky and he's already 31. He should be able to manage it...but it's not a sure thing.

I think the bigger problem might be that Matchroom already handles Lawrence Okolie. And to your own point - CW isn't that deep. It looks like either Hearn isn't able to get good fights for Okolie - or maybe he isn't trying all that hard because interest in the division just isn't that high outside of E. Europe and the FSU nations. Either way, he'd probably be hesitant to take on another CW for fear he can't do much with him.

 

Hrgovic and Joyce are both tough fights that no-one want to take, but Joyce took on Dubois and has Takam on his CV + he's British. Sometimes I take close note of my sister's interest in boxing ... she watches a lot of boxing and got into it reluctantly via her boyfriend but has become more and more keen on it. They subscribe to various media to watch it and don't mind forking out for PPV. She knows all about Joyce but nothing about Hrgovic. Hrgovic seems to be waiting for a door to open when perhaps he needs to push for a dance partner who's a name who's being likewise shut out. I know he's been avoided but he seems to be passively waiting around ... there's maybe millions of people like my sister out there who won't take an interest in (or pay for) his fights until he makes a statement somehow.

 

Surely Hearn can find someone for Hrgovic next that'll at least stand there for 10 rounds like Wach or something at the very least? Or other HWs on his stable that are in no mans land like McKean, Bakole or Zhang? Either way, Hearn needs to give Hrgovic a bit of backing here and put some money towards him.

 

Those three (McKean, Bakole or Zhang) would be good and they might be on it if it's good money. A loss to someone like Hrgovic is also probably something they could wear, especially if he goes onto bigger things later. McKean/Huni or Goodall in Qld would be great mid next year.

 

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I just watched this. Ahmatovic had a decent strategy he just couldn't execute. I give him credit he didn't come to lay down just didn't have the tools to beat Hrgy Bear(™anjawnaymiz ). Hrgovic still getting caught with too many shots he shouldn't be but against lesser competition its not hurting him yet. I'm looking forward to him fighting someone in the top 10 though I have concerns.

 

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Former cruiser champ Firat Arslan moves to 50-9-3 35 KOs with a 4th round KO over 45 year old former IBF Super Middleweight champion Alejandro Berrio. This is Arslans 3rd fight this year and he's 51.

 

****, ****, ****, ****.

I knew it.

Really looking forward to that, too.

POST SCRIPT:
I love the guy but I am starting to get a little suspicious. He's came into his last two fights a bit flabby, so what is all this intense training he is doing where he is always getting injured? Why not just concentrate on the road work and come in shape without any hands or shoulders injured? I hope he is not actually going down that Kovalev/Kudryashayov road...

 

I continue to not be impressed by Hrgovic. He will could make his way to a title, but those expecting him to be the next big thing are in for a disappointment.

 

I just really want to see him against an actual contender to see where his level is at and, like you, currently tread with him cautiously. But if he can't get a meaningful fight, just keep having him destroy the Ahmatovics of the world every 4-6 weeks for experience, exposure, and staying sharp