Isn't Mike Tyson's loss to Buster Douglas more "humiliating" than Itauma's loss to Hrgovic?

Tyson was 2 years older and far more experienced than Itauma, having had multiple title defenses already, so for Itauma youth and inexperience are far more legitimate "excuses" for a loss.

I respect Buster Douglas but Hrgovic is a level above him in class, and while Itauma did lose, he did something nobody else had done and taken most rounds from Hrgovic - and Hrgovic isn't an easy guy to take rounds from. Ask Dubois, who was losing 5-2 or 6-1 to a worse version of Hrgovic.

Do you think the Mike Tyson that couldn't get past Buster Douglas would get past this version of Hrgovic? Itauma is a 194cm southpaw with a 79 inch reach. Mike Tyson is 178cm orthodox with a 71 inch reach. Debatable, I think not.

All this to say, Itauma's career and potential future greatness isn't ruined by the loss vs Hrgovic any more than Tyson's was by the loss vs Douglas, or more recently than Dubois's was by the loss to Joyce. It's a loss but it's not career ending. The people who say that unjustly disrespect both Itauma and Hrgovic. If Itauma hasn't suffered lasting physical injuries, and if he has the mentality to recover and learn from the defeat, purely from a career standpoint, for him it's just begun. He's an ultra talented 21y old Brit.

He took most rounds from the best version of Hrgovic we've seen in years, and he went out on his shield like a warrior, fighting until he physically couldn't, demonstrating heart and good (though not iron) chin together with the abnormal speed he's already known for. Hrgovic himself said Itauma is one of a kind, best fighter he shared the ring with and future of the HW division, and other than his known pro and amateur fights Hrgovic also sparred the likes of Wilder, Wlad and Haye, he's been around.

The kid clearly has massive potential, let him regroup and redbuild, hopefully smarter and without skipping steps this time. It was just too much too soon. Who knows what his ceiling is. He apparently never even sparred 12 rounds. Then again it might be that his fast twitch muscles simply can't be trained for 12 rounds no more than Hrgovic's more slow twitch dominant muscles can be trained for Itauma's speed. Or maybe Hrgovic's Vitali Klitschko archetype of granite chin+height and reach+endurance+pressure simply counters Itauma's attributes, and Itauma doesn't even need more than 8 rounds for anybody else. IMO Itauma picked exactly the guy he shouldn't have picked, I guess wanting to prove he can KO even the guy known for the toughest chin. He'll almost certainly be a world champion at some point.

 

Nope, Tyson before that had already cleaned up most of the division and Itauma pushed Hrgovic off stage in the weigh in so this case was more humbling imo.

This really shows how impressive Mike's run was at such a young age

 

You read the thread or just the title?

Consider also Wlad's loss to Russ Puritty, somewhat similar to this Itauma's loss to Hrgovic. Wlad was only 22.

Do you think that loss would be more or less humiliating if it came when Wlad was 30-40 or then at 22?

Obviously if a fighter is in his prime then a loss is more humiliating than if they hadn't reached their prime yet.

 

Itaumas win seems embarrassing on the surface precisely because he was hyped up to be the next MIKE TYSON. Douglas Mom also died and unlike Douglas Hrgovic can't fight on the inside at all despite some better attributes. Itauma will never be as good as Mike Tysons peak no matter the lowlights.

Old Larry Holmes, Tony Tucker and Pinklon Thomas are all better than Hrgovic BTW, just like Dubois is better than Hrgovic

 

Also, Mike was clearly on a spiral. Out of the ring noise was increasing, his original trainer/stepfather (cus d'amoto) died and Mike was just a mess. An inevitable train wreck that many saw coming even if it felt impossible at the time.

 

Damn that's some severe, severe delusion. Hope this forum has a blocklist so I don't have to read your deranged fantasies. Let's see...

 

Dubois gave Hrgovic a beating in the final round after he turned his face into pizza, the only one delusional here is you

 

Couldnt agree more. I dont really rate Wlad losing at 22, Canelo losing at 22, or BHop losing his first ever pro fight.

 

Funniest part about this is Mike Tyson was 23