Huge Tactical Problem in Itauma vs Hrgovic…

Or it could be one of his better attributes, just like Vitali didn't have the same chin as Wlad. Anthony Yarde said he's seen him spar, and he has zero concerns about his chin, but I don't think Hrgovic will be the guy to test it anyway; someone like Dubois would be a better measurement. I think we're looking at a phenomenon, but who knows; this comment could age like milk.

 

How can anyone not have Loma as a favorite is the real question here.

But yeah I think people are so used to "super heavies" they consider anyone under 6.5 feet tall as being small which is laughable to me

 

Dubois's aggressive front-foot style would personally be an issue for Itauma. We've not even seen Itauma backed up onto the ropes, thats just how untested he is.

 

Also leaves Dubios open to getting peppered with solid counter shots.

 

If Itauma isn't chinny, Dubois will lose because, like Itauma, most of his defense comes from his feet, and the faster Itauma will probably neutralize that defense. Hrgovic also has a flawed defense, but he has a 10/10 chin and actually uses a guard, unlike Dubois' more open stance.

This is coming from someone who said Dubois was underrated before the Wardley fight, when the disrespect toward his quality as a heavyweight was at an all-time high, and someone who thought Dubois knocked Usyk down with a body shot in their first fight. I'm not a hater, but Dubois would be the second-easiest champion for Itauma to beat. Gassiev would be the easiest, while Kabayel and Hrgovic would be much harder fights.

 

I get you, my friend, but in the heavyweight division, anything is possible.

 

At the same time Dubois may not leave Itauma space for those counters like the Wardley fight. Itauma has even pointed out Dubois stylistically is the hardest spar he's ever had, on top of being far more proven than Itauma even if Itauma beats Hrgovic.

Dubois will absolutely use his head-butts against Itauma and he is a far harder puncher than anyone Itauma has fought.

Personally - bar Usyk, Dubois is the toughest opponent for Itauma, and more so than Hrgovic.

 

Moses Itauma is the best heavyweight in the world and as next weekend will show, likely has been since the back end of last year.

The iron hrgovic chin will be cracked. No chin is immune from being cracked at heavyweight, as we saw with Joyce

 

If Lerena can put Dubios on the ground 3x, imagine what Itauma could do.

Throughout this era the dominant heavyweights (Usyk and Fury) have not been known to be particularly big punchers. Yes Dubios hits hard, but that's not enough imo.

 

Don't get me wrong - Dubois doesn't have the best chin. However though, Itauma's chin hasn't even been tested one bit.

Not being hit by all your career on top of fighting non-punchers, then going straight into the Dubois fight whom he is a massive puncher - thats quite something.

 

The Joyce fight was a long time ago, hes picked up a number of good victories since then and has grown as a fighter.

I agree that the headbutting applied by Dubois is cheap and dirty, but they are clearly subtle and effective enough to win him fights against good fighters. Good fighters.

 

Fair point. This is exactly why I'm so exited for this fight between Itamua and Hrgovic, it'll answer a couple of important questions (hopefully).

In saying that, watch Itauma blast him out in two leaving the chin question hanging lol

 

If Itauma literally puts Hrgovic face flat to the floor like he did against Franklin, whom Hrgovic has an elite chin - then it would be a huge statement of his power.