How great is Hrgovic chin to have endured 12 rounds with Zhang

People said Joyce had an iron chin after the first fight, now they say he has a glass jaw.

Hrgovic was down and hurt several times, Zhang wasn't as good as now and lighter. Who knows if Hrgovic would stand if he had taken a punch like his.

 

I think after Zhang's fights against Joyce it's obvious that Hrgovic has granite chin.

Also, Hrgovic was never knocked down or hurt during his extensive amateur and WSB career, and that means something. For example, his compatriot Zjelko Mavrovic was knocked out twice in the amateurs, including KO1 loss to British light heavyweight.

 

The knockdown was a rabbit punch and a pull, and while Hrgovic was caught at times, there were also rounds in which he controlled Zhang with hand fighting, movement, subtle defence, and his own volume and punch selection. Pretty much how you would disarm an old, low-output high-impact counterpuncher. Move, feint, break the breathing pattern with sudden rhythm changes and blows to the body. Joyce looked like a caveman in comparison, though I still think some of the shots he took would knock a lot other heavies cold. The lead hook he was caught with could probably hospitalize one.

 

Zhang looked exhausted in that fight. The Zhang who fought Joyce would have knocked out Hrgovic. If I remember correctly, there were times when Hrgovic looked like he was knocked out on his feet. Zhang just couldn't finish him off.

 

Hrgovic made Zhang work. He actually scored to the head and the body, and made sure he can't set up and control the pace like he did against Joyce.

 

He couldnt finish him because Filip even when he was wobbled he very quick comeback to game and answer.

If Filip be in better shape he win with Zhang again. Zhang not change much- he just fight different dude.