Moses Itauma vs. Filip Hrgović & Sam Noakes vs. Denys Berinchyk + Nelson Hysa vs. Thomas Narmo RBR.

Only difference is 1. Moses is young and will adapt 2. Not many have Hrgvoic's chin

Itauma's failure was pacing and cornering. Itauma should have taken rounds off with advice from his corner, he was clearly breathing heavy from round 3-4 onwards. He did not need to be throwing heavy combos in the last two rounds, especially when he was hurt

It's a shame he lost, because now the morons come out in the drove shouting hypejob, when realistically a few tweaks/ and even a bit more experience he would have won. Hrgovic for 7-8 rounds looked pretty clueless n there

You can't call a 20 year old guy he takes 8 rounds off a seasoned pro and olympian, a hypejob. You've got to be a real moron to say that

 

Worst thing that can happen is Itauma breaking mentally because he has been so spoiled and hyped. Well, Filip was hailed once too, and look at the road the ring took him through to get the belt.

Another disgraced heir apparent seeking redemption

 

Moses will come again.
It’s not like Bigfoot Hrgovic beat him on skill. Itauma is clearly too inexperienced and arrogant to try to beat an iron chinned fighter by decision. Had to go for the KO to prove a point and made himself look foolish.
If Ray Leonard done the same against say, Marcos Geraldo and gasses himself out, he gets knocked over like a bowling pin too. This is a mental issue for Moses.
If he learns from this he can be world champion absolutely.
Hrgovic did the Homer Simpson method of boxing and fair play to him it worked

 

i love all the pre-fight comments before the fight started about the outcome in itauma's favour
there was advertising on buses and billboards in london with itauma's picture, basically dismissing hrgovic
i wonder if those billboards are going to get redone featuring hrgovic
the way about 98% of people online dismissed him, this was a sweet victory..
just love reading these post fight comments with itauma supporters, and no doubt the people at queensberry with egg on their faces..
the fight was billed as ''witness history''
hrgovic should get billboards and advertising on buses
''we winessed history''!!!!

 

hype aside, curious as to your genuine opinion on what you expect his next few years to look like?

I always dread it when you back the guy I'm rooting against because usually you have it right lol

 

I like how Dan Rafael described it:

"So, when Hrgovic was still standing as the fight moved into the second half, it was hard to count him out regardless of how far behind he was on the scorecards. He had done what he set out to do — take the green Itauma into deep water and eventually drown him."

Both Hrgovic and Itauma are very likeable, and they gave us one of the best HW fights in years.

As for what's next: While I realize Sanchez may be frustrated to have to take another step-aside payday, the reality is that Kabayel beat him convincingly and now the fans want to see these newly disaggregated belts unified -- whether Hrgovic vs Kabayel, or Hrgovic vs Dubois (assuming he gets past Wardley again) ... or Kabayel vs Dubois.... and one of them to take out Gassiev .... whatever.

 

If you can't stop your opponent you better be at least capable of completing the 12 rounds. No and no for Itauma against Hrgovic.

If they fought again in 3 months time, why would the outcome be any different?

 

Hrgovic knew, consciously or not, what weight he is bringing in. Unless you are a freak like Kabayel (once and then a heavy man with immense stamina like Carnera, Kabayel, or so appear in the history), you gotta either pace yourself or come in between the 200-230 range. The old school 15 rounds trim.

I reckon the stories of Kabayel getting hit a tad too much in sparring could be related to how relaxed and focused he is, but there is a reason fighters brace and tense up---there is a line between relaxed and getting too loose, and it takes either experience and skill or trust in your whiskers to endure the punishment.

Bottom line, Itauma is in for a change in pacing, a change in conditioning (if he wants to keep those crowd-pleasing, Hollywood knockouts), or a change in trainers, because I don't believe he has that proactive, relaxed first gear to settle in to rest. He seems to be either preparing a barrage, or defending to counter hard. Everything energy consuming.

 

I made no prediction ahead of the fight just because Itauma took such a step up in comp, but I had hoped for him to show himself to be the next big thing. The talent is there, no doubt, but he showed signs of tiring already in the 3rd. The question was if he could pace himself through if he didn't get the stoppage, but he didn't show that composure and obviously lacks in experience.

 

Damn, that was a classic!

 

Itauma showed he has ability, he ticked the chin box but experience he lacked, he will get there. He wasnt hurt, he wasnt taking punches, its a hard but valuable lesson. Rebuild, hire a new coach, McGuigan would be great and for the love of god, start doing 12 rounds in sparring.

 

Funny how the world moves on. Usyk was the champion, and now its time for the next chapter to unfold. Man, I wish we could have seen him against more than three actual top heavyweights.

 

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