Itauma was not taking Hrgovic's punches well - watch the highlights

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by MetalLicker, Aug 30, 2026 at 10:50 AM.


  1. MetalLicker

    MetalLicker I Am Full Member

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    Some people keep saying that Hrgovic didn't land anything or that he won because Itauma got exhausted, but I think Hrgovic has a lot to do with that.

    We know Hrgovic can take a punch, but it looks like Itauma was not taking shots well. When he got hit, it shows it on his face. He does not have a good poker face at all. There are number of instances where his winces in pain after getting hit. That will only motivate the other fighters. I don't think he has a bad chin, but it doesn't look great either.

    Hrgovic was starting to land flush as early as round 3, round 5 and round 6. Itauma was still getting the better of Hrgovic, but Itauma wasn't take punches as well as he was giving it. In round 9, it was nothing but pain for Itauma. He got hammered the whole round and winced in pain multiple times.

    Here are two videos where he showed visible pain after getting hit.

    1:02 mark. He winces in pain after getting hit in round 3.

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    4:00 mark. Breathing hard and looking wary after getting hit with multiple flush shots.

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    Last edited: Aug 30, 2026 at 10:57 AM
    MetalLicker, Aug 30, 2026 at 10:50 AM
    MetalLicker, Aug 30, 2026 at 10:50 AM
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  2. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Yes, I don't know what most people were watching. When Filip got on the front foot and pressed, Moses got uncomfortable. And when he finally shed his reluctance and threw shots, even range-finder looking shots, Moses started cracking at the seams. Now, granted, Filip's reluctance was caused by getting tagged when he thought about opening up. He had a hard time leading. But at some point, he seemed to realize Moses didn't punch that hard.
     
    Seamus, Aug 30, 2026 at 10:54 AM
    Seamus, Aug 30, 2026 at 10:54 AM
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  3. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    I pointed this out a month ago

    It might not seem like much at all but it's one of the rare occasions we'd actually seen Moses get hit prior to last night and his reaction to the shot caught my attention

    10:56 mark

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    It's the expression he pulled which I found interesting and as soon as I saw him do it again last night I was like he's going to be in trouble here if Hrgovic can weather the storm, take him into deep waters, and start to land clean with his own shots or even just land flush with his big right hand. I'm not saying he has a bad chin but look at someone like Hrgovic no matter how hard, flush and many times a massive puncher cracks him on the chin you will never see that kind of expression on his face and that's after eating massive flush bombs from absolutely murderous punchers. The way fighters react to getting hit can be very revealing
     
    Serge, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:07 AM
    Serge, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:07 AM
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  4. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    I agree with you 100%. Itauma was winning the rounds, but losing the war overall. Hrgovic knew that he could take what Itauma was dishing better than vice versa.
     
    catchwtboxing, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:26 AM
    catchwtboxing, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:26 AM
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  5. TowelThrower

    TowelThrower Y'all must've forgot Full Member

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    I remember last night someone declaring that Hrgovic never hit Itauma cleanly during the closing sequence and he was merely exhausted, I watched a ringside video and the spray coming off both their heads as they exchanged punches was insane, you cannot claim he didn't take any shots with any seriousness :jump1:
     
    TowelThrower, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:31 AM
    TowelThrower, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:31 AM
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  6. zeratul

    zeratul Active Member Full Member

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    Great post! There was a moment in the fight where Hrgovic landed his first hard eye-catching punch on Itauma's chin, and I remember seeing multiple comments already concluding that Itauma has great chin. In reality, Itauma didn't take the damage well at all, it's just that he didn't go down.
     
    zeratul, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:48 AM
    zeratul, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:48 AM
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  7. MetalLicker

    MetalLicker I Am Full Member

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    Sometimes the sturdier fighter only needs to land a few flush shots and that's enough to get the fighter with the weaker chin in trouble.

    Winning early rounds doesn't mean much if you lose your ability to survive the championship rounds.
     
    MetalLicker, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:49 AM
    MetalLicker, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:49 AM
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  8. TowelThrower

    TowelThrower Y'all must've forgot Full Member

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    I see a little of the Froch vs Groves dynamic in this fight, he threw everything including several kitchen sinks at Froch but his well known titanium chin and unrelenting will saw him begin to get to him after the halfway point and Groves began to wilt under the pressure. Unfortunately Foster prevented a conclusive finish unlike here so we can say well down Howard this time at least.
     
    TowelThrower, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:52 AM
    TowelThrower, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:52 AM
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  9. Perkin Warbeck

    Perkin Warbeck Boxing Aficionado Full Member

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    Good thread.

    Some people have been ignoring the effects of Hrgovic's punches, they need to watch more carefully.
     
    Perkin Warbeck, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:58 AM
    Perkin Warbeck, Aug 30, 2026 at 11:58 AM
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