Hrgovic update! Gym clips included.

What makes an A+ Chin?

Getting hit, and taking it by solid to big punchers over many amateur or professional fights without the following happening:

1 ) Being stopped, or halted by the ref.

2 ) Going down ( Only two ring magazine champs never went down, so it can happen to anyone )

3 ) Clinching to recover from the blow

4 ) Looking hurt or moving with unsteady legs

5 ) Altering your action to stop winning at the moment, and being entirely defensive.


I never saw Hrgovic in stages 1-4, and only briefly in #5.

Who might you ask tested Hrgovic's ability to take it?

At age 20 Hrgovic was in over his head vs. a much older Joe Joyce (27-year-old), who landed his best over five rounds. There's such a difference between age 20 and 27 at super heavyweight. At any rate, Hrgovic lost on points but proved his chin, heart and toughness that night.

In an epic match between Hrgovic and Nistor, ( Nistor, an excellent puncher who stopped Joshua for example ) could not hurt the Croatian giant.

Nistor and Joyce are arguably the best punchers in the amateur ranks at super heavyweight, though Majidov might hit a little harder than these two.

Hrgovic also fought Cammarelle, Kuzman, Parker, and Dycho, none of who could hurt him and all are at least good punchers. In these fights, he was often giving up age and experience as well.

In 88 amateur and two pro fights, he's never been down ( or badly hurt ) and the competition faced has been excellent.

So in my judgment, he takes one heck of a punch. In addition his body looks iron as well. I can not recall him losing or pulling out due to an injury.

Some people think Tua takes a heck of a punch, and yes he does. He was also iced in one round by Savon in the amateurs.

 

Hrgovic was a late bloomer and just 20. Joyce had far more experience and was age 27. I think Joyce is one heck of a puncher, and he tee'd off on a young and not ready for prime time Hrgovic. Hrgovic hits much harder now than he did at age 20 and has really improved overall. So do not use this fight to measure how well Joyce takes it. To clarify I never said Hrgovic is a huge puncher on Wlad's level, but he can hit hard for sure.

No I do not think Joyce has an A+ chin. Two examples why.

1 ) Sergey Kuzman, a decent puncher and young pro KO'd Joyce.
2 ) A no name Hamza Beguerni also stopped him

So to me Joyce's chin is suspect vs punchers, like most heavyweights. Fans tend to underestimate just how hard some of the guys hit. You don't have to take the punch to the head or body. Just volunteer to hold a heavy bag ( Keep your thumbs away from the outside ) and you can somewhat of an idea.

I think Joyce is something of a poor man's George Foreman, but he can hit a ton when he lands clean. His skills aren't very good, and likely won't improve much at his current age.

So there you have it. If you just change your tune, you might learn a thing or two from me.

 

BB,

As mentioned Hrgovic was a 20 year old boy facing a more experienced 27 year old grown man when this fight happened. Joyce is a brutish puncher, anyone who saw him in the 2016 Olympics knows that. A 20 year old going 5 rounds with him says something.

At super heavyweight, even the world junior champions ( 18 and under ) drop off the map for a while when they move in the senior amateur ranks ( Age 18-40 ). Its a maturity type of thing as most are 6'4" to 6'9" tall grown men.

People are much stronger once they mature.

At any rate, you could compare some parts of Hrgovic's game to Pulev, who achieved the #1 ranking by Ring Magazine, except Hrgovic's chin and power are much greater.

A top jab, height, long arms, fast hands and good footspeed is its own brand of defense. Hrgovic has this.



His defense has improved a bit, but its the one average part in his game. He's good enough of an athlete to slip and duck punches and the clips show him dodging punchers and counters with the mist and pad.

Lewis, and Wlad were not defensive guys in the amateurs, they learned as a professional so I'm not too concerned Hrgovic can't improve on defense.

 

He never had a standing 8 count that I am aware. The World series of boxing is very pro like. How many super amateurs had 80+ fights, and never took a count or were badly hurt escaping the count? My point is its very rare. Chins are best graded when hit, and I've seen enough punchers land to judge

Based on what I've seen as good as any chin in the Amateur games. Hrgovic was in Klitschko's camp for Joshua. I wonder how he did?