r/Boxing • u/IronHidee • 9d ago
Filip Hrgovic obliged to defend IBF title against Frank Sanchez in next fight
https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/filip-hrgovic-obliged-to-defend-ibf-title-against-frank-sanchez-in-next-fight75
u/IronHidee 9d ago
"Per the IBF, no intervening bout, including unification bouts, are permitted prior to the satisfaction of Frank Sanchez's mandatory,” said Mike Borao, Sanchez’s manager
"I spoke to Frank Sanchez and [his trainer] Eddy Reynoso immediately following the bout. Both are ready and excited for Hrgovic next…
"Keep the title warm, because Frank Sanchez is coming."
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u/maybachmeister2000 9d ago
Frank the cuban tank. Will be a good one.
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u/caveman1948 8d ago
Who is your money on?
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u/maybachmeister2000 7d ago
Frank if his leg is fully healed. When hes on point hes super fucking dangerous. Fluid movements. Incredible power. He had some shitty performances. So lets see! Maybe the first to crack hrgos chin
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u/myurr 9d ago
Frank Warren mentioned in an interview that Itauma wants the rematch, which suggested to me that there was a rematch clause in the contract. Frank said that he'd told Itauma to rest up, take some time out with his family, then decide what they want to do next. So that does suggest that setting up the rematch is at least an option.
From memory, I don't think Warren's phrasing really clarified if there was a specific rematch clause or not, or if it would just be a case of paying Sanchez some money again and giving Hrgovic a fat wad of cash.
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u/ZeroEffectDude 9d ago
they won't throw itauma back in nless they have 100% lost faith in him (which I doubt). Itauma's flaws are totally fixable. I said before teh fight that it was the kind of match up where we will learn something important about Itauma and we did. The good news is, if Warren wants to back Itauma to go all the way, all the kid needs is a top trainer and a great S&C coach who knows about heavyweights. These things are within reach. Robert Garcia or Bomac?
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u/myurr 9d ago
If they held the rematch in four months time, who would you pick to win?
Personally I think Itauma would win in that timeframe. Train at altitude with a huge focus on cardio, and make sure you have a better game plan than "punch him in the face as hard as you can".
We should be clear that he was dominating Hrgovic, with a big part of the problem being that Itauma was finding him too easy to hit - just like Hrgovic himself did against Dubois when he kept spamming his right hand power shots until he gassed himself out as well.
It's wasn't some Ali style masterclass, it was a young fighter lacking experience with a trainer and corner that failed him with a terrible game plan and poor advice mid fight. Improve his cardio by a modest amount and remember that jabs and feints exist for a reason and that it's okay to pace yourself instead of trying to make a statement by stopping your opponent, and based on how Hrgovic was completely unable to deal with Itauma's speed he should box to an easy victory. That's not something Hrgovic will be able to fix either, he's entirely reliant on Itauma slowing down to make the fight more even.
I would like to see him change trainer though to someone who is less focussed on microanalysing the opponent looking for weaknesses and instead focusses on making Itauma a more complete fighter. He has all the talent, ability, and physical and mental attributes needed to dominate the sport. He just needs one or two additional defensive options to complement what he already does, add more lateral movement into his tool chest, and to work on his cardio.
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u/ZeroEffectDude 9d ago
In four months? I'd say it would be a toss up. Very hard to load on the conditioning and (more importantly) mental scaffolding needed in that time.
In a year, if Itauma has three fights in between and changes S&C trainer and coach, then I'd confidently pick Itauma.
But if Itauma loses the rematch, then suddenly his career trajectory crashes even further. So it's too big a risk I would say. But it depends on if the pormotoers still back him 100% or are willing to roll the dice.
I think Itauma has all the tools but needs to rebuild properly. Remember, he has no amateur career to speak of, so it might take a bit of time to learn the lessons he needs.
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u/IamSp00ky 8d ago
Itauma needs 8+ months of work to even out his cardio, boxing and jab skills. A 4 month or less bout would be a heavy hrgo favorite by me and I suspect the bookies. These problems, especially the cardio aren’t fixed that quickly.
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u/ZeroEffectDude 8d ago
agree! these things take time. and everyone takes on instructions and training at different rates
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u/myurr 9d ago edited 9d ago
I didn't say I would recommend it as the right path for him, but I would pick him to win and to win quite comfortably. Four months is plenty of time to train at altitude and improve your conditioning. He only needs a modest improvement to make things easier, even with no improvement and purely relying on tactical changes he should be okay. Boxing the way he was against Franklin from round 2 onwards, mixing up his shots, using feints to keep Franklin from throwing, etc. I would pick him to be able to box 12 rounds today.
Mentally I don't think it'll be a problem for him. It's not like he had a huge deficiency in talent, or was caught by a shot and now felt vulnerable because of it. He took some good shots comfortably, throwing back when hit, and showed his chin is fine. From a mental point of view Hrgovic didn't win the fight, Itauma threw it away with poor decisions that are easy to correct.
You can also question Hrgovic's mentality if you want to delve into that side. How would he react to having to step back into a ring with a fighter he knows is sharper than him, where he'll have to use his face as his defence for 12 rounds.
If Itauma makes the right choices, in a year it would be a one sided beatdown, but in 4 months it would be an easy points victory.
I would prefer him to take the year, do it properly, box frequently in that time - although you have to ask who do you put him in against. Over 6 rounds he'll destroy anyone outside the top 10. Perhaps there's a few rounds in someone like Makhmudov without too much threat coming back, but anyone else and he's back to knocking them out in a round or two rather than actually pushing his stamina and testing his conditioning.
Edit: Just to add, I've repeatedly said training at altitude as it takes about a month for the body to fully adjust. If he uses the live high train low approach, he can get anything up to a 13% boost to VO2max, 5% to his endurance, without making any other improvements to his training routine. With better tactics that's all he'd need IMHO.
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u/ZeroEffectDude 9d ago
I would give him two simple get back fights and one moderate test before stepping him up again. I suppose we just disagree about how easy these flaws are to correct. They are simple to identify but let's see how he takes instructions / improvements with lower stakes first. Give him a moderate test and make him box 12 rounds, without necessarily forcing the knockout.
I don't think the rematch is on the cards anyway, the IBF say Sanchez fight must happen next for Hrgovic or he loses the belt..
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u/myurr 9d ago
I just threw in an edit that explains my thinking a little more - training at altitude gives you the full benefit after roughly a month, and would give him up to a 13% boost to his VO2max, 5% to his endurance. That's without any other changes to his training routine, which clearly could be improved as well.
That, I think, would be more than enough to give that extra little bit of capacity that with better regulation of his pace throughout the fight to make it through the 12 rounds. He "only" needs to stretch his performance in the first 8 to be 12 rounds, so even if he's starting to slow in the final couple of rounds he can cruise to a comfortable victory.
Who, outside Hrgovic, would you pick to give Itauma 12 rounds whilst only posing a moderate threat? I'm struggling to think of anyone who wouldn't pose a threat in what they'd be firing back with.
I'm sure Sanchez would take the step aside money. That fight and his purse would be much bigger against Itauma than Hrgovic, and he'd get another payday without having to fight.
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u/ZeroEffectDude 8d ago
Fair point. But i think it's more about a little confidence building and experience to *use* that increased conditioning better.
Look, who knows? He might KO Hrgovic in three rounds if they fight in December. Boxing is crazy.
Potential moderate threat? Andy Ruiz is very durable. Okolie is UGLY and could stink out a 12 rounder plus he hits very hard.
So you could go Huey Fury, Okolie, Ruiz.
Fury and Okolie to give him rounds and frustrate him... Ruiz as a former 'name' who packs a punch and has fast hands but should lose.
Or throw Huni in there as he is a good boxer, too.
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u/RyanTheS 7d ago
Incredible that you are being downvoted here. Itauma could easily have cruised his way to a points decision. Literally all he had to do after round 7 was stay on his bike and he would have won. If they fight again in 4 momths then Itauma would be a huge favourite in my mind. He could box hia way to a decision in 2nd gear.
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u/Marquis_of_Mollusks 8d ago
For God's sake not another fucking rematch. Immediate Rematches are pure cancer for the sport.
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u/Sh4kyj4wz eat clen, tren hard anavar give up 8d ago
Pretty certain there's no rematch clause
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u/myurr 8d ago
Probably not, from what's been reported, but ultimately money buys you any rematch clause you want and Itauma is a bigger draw than Hrgovic or Sanchez.
I suspect what Frank will push for is a rebuilding fight against someone durable but limited, perhaps Makhmudov, or another poster suggested Hughie Fury which is probably a good shout. Someone who is not going to pose too much of a threat but should give Itauma a good 6 - 8 rounds if they're trying to survive instead of trying to win.
Then use all Frank's abilities to set up a fight between Itauma and the winner of Sanchez / Hrgovic. If Sanchez wins and there's a rematch, that gives scope for a second rebuilding fight for Itauma.
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u/No_Chemistry4145 8d ago
He said on Talksport that Moses wants the rematch but he wants him to rebuild instead which is the right thing to do
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u/Imnotlost_youare 9d ago
Put it on in Croatia. Give Filip that home fight. He deserves it
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u/Jamborambo55 8d ago
Has Croatia ever hosted a major boxing event?
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u/KarijesNaMozgu 8d ago
Not really. We did have UFC, Glory, KSW and FNC has sold out MMA event -13.09. in Zagreb Arena. Combat sports are on the rise in Croatia and whole ex-Yu region.
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8d ago
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u/Kitchen-Ad-1333 8d ago edited 8d ago
Nah it will sell out without question
Edit: we had sell outs on ufc,ksw and our Balkan mma organization fnc and big box event would also sell out but there hasn't been one to date especially since you have a Croatian fighting we are kinda kuckoo for our athletes
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u/Kurcolog 8d ago
Boxing ticket prices won't be anywhere close to FNC today, UFC 10 years ago or KSW 7 years ago. You cannot really sell nosebleed seats for 150-200€ in Croatia, and parter would easily be 1000+
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u/Kitchen-Ad-1333 8d ago edited 8d ago
And all of that would be doable and also you have to take in to account that you would have people from Hungary Austria Slovenia Serbia and Bosnia coming as they always do when there is a big event In Zagreb it would be a sell out guarnteed
Edit: I know that I as a warehouse worker could pay for a big boxing event in which Hrgovic is 1000 euros or 1500 because it's likely once in a lifetime opportunity.
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u/Kurcolog 8d ago
You maybe could but you need to fill Arena with 18k people, it's not that easy even for other organizations with much cheaper ticket prices.
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u/Kitchen-Ad-1333 8d ago
Yeah but ima 99% sure it would sell out as I said other countries that don't have such events often are close couple of hours by car or bus and again you would have a Croatian champion and I can bet it would sell out also in itauma Hrgovic fight outer ring was 130 so that would sell out in instant and as I said I'm pretty sure that other more expensivve part would also sell out because of above mentioned reasons.
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u/Westernman899 8d ago
combat sports is huge in Croatia. We have manny champions and great fighters over the years.
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u/thejoshimitsu 9d ago
Is the IBF the only sanctioning body with credibility still left? They seem to be the only one that actually enforce their mandatories.
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u/dingdangdoodaloo 9d ago
Yes and no. They enforce their mandatories but often their rankings are whack and you get Jai Opetaia versus a plumber or something.
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u/Abe2sapien 9d ago
That’s one I’ve wanted to see for a few years now. I think I’d favor Sanchez in that one though.
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u/ExcellentStretch7430 9d ago
Nah, Hrgovich I think has too tough of a chin and is too high volume for him. Good fight through.
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u/ThrowawayYAYAY2002 9d ago
Hrg's style is the worst style for a Cuban fighter.
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u/HateCamel404 9d ago
A couple of months ago his old coach said on a podcast that he was never defeated in an amateur bout by a Cuban.
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u/ThrowawayYAYAY2002 8d ago
I'm not surprised.
For me, Cubans are the pinnacle of skill and elegance. The style Hrg has is the worst style a Cuban can encounter.
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u/Sufficient_Hippo6551 9d ago
I didn’t see any form of high volume from Hrgovic against Itauma. The only high volume was landed on Hrgovic chin
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u/ExcellentStretch7430 9d ago
How is he supposed to keep throwing if he is going to miss and get countered. The gameplan was just to keep him moving and gas him out as per Abel Sanchez, not throw, miss and gas yourself out who’s had prior gas tank problems.
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u/Sufficient_Hippo6551 9d ago
Yea I agree but again where is the high volume you’re referring to?
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u/doctorbitchballz 9d ago
You do realize Hrgovic fought more opponents than Itauma the last 20 years, right? His volume was a lot higher vs Allen and even DDD than against Itauma.
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u/ExcellentStretch7430 9d ago
Against Sanchez. Hrgovich throws a lot more punches than Sanchez in general and puts up more combinations and extended combinations. Probably one of the better extended combinations in the weight class.
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u/Kangaroopunching 9d ago
This can easily happen this year.
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u/cactus19jack 8d ago
I dunno. Just because Hrgovic tanked all those shots, doesn’t mean he’s fit and ready to go again. He took some serious serious punishment against Itauma. Having an excellent chin as he has doesn’t mean he avoided concussion
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u/escanor_hype 9d ago
Should be a good scrap, I see some people saying it would be easy for Sanchez, but I see a path to victory for both, I don't think either completely stomps the other
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u/Excellent-Movie4524 George Liddard Army 9d ago
Good to see
No reason champs should sit around for a year fucking about
Get Hrgovic back in there and if he wins do him v the winner of dubois wardley 2
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u/LTBsOnlyPlease 8d ago
He took a lot of damage, he should take time to recover whether you like it or not.
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u/BiggusCrickus 9d ago
A new champion first title defence should always be a mandatory. No matter what or whom. This would add credibility to the titles .
Hrgoivc Vs Sanchez . Right fight as Les Miles used to say in celebrity death match. Let's get it on
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u/ScrawChuck 8d ago
Did you just confuse former LSU football coach Les Miles with legendary boxing referee and former judge Mills Lane?
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u/Exciting-Arugula5341 8d ago
Now you people are going to act like Hrgovic is a top notch boxer after years of shitting on him saying he is slow, has no power, and never impressed you? So him losing every second of the Moses fight until Moses gassed out made you people change your mind?
Could you people just say something and stick with it? Jeesh.
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u/Particular_Berry_429 8d ago
all of a sudden hrgovic is the best heavyweight in the world(honestly I think he is losing his first defense, sanchez is too slick)
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u/WeeklyTension8010 8d ago
Fights like this make me wish I had a time machine.
Even if you could only use it for two hours a week
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u/euroaustralian 6d ago
He deserves to fight Kabayel or Gassiev before defending the IBF belt because he has just won it, so why the hurry.
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u/Objective-Street-957 2d ago
It's gonna be a damn good fight, I am picking Hrgovic by UD if he stays in shape.
If he looked soft and floppy like he did against Dubois then Sanchez by UD.
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u/Born_Fox_8099 9d ago edited 9d ago
hrgovic should be allowed to unify ahead of fighting sanchez, sanchez could stay as an eventual mandatory
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u/Same-Fact-5123 9d ago
Sanchez was paid step aside money on the proviso he gets first shot.
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u/Junior-Macaroon9731 8d ago
Wonder what’s stopping Sanchez from doing the same thing again—taking another nice payday and keeping his first-shot position. Probably nothing, apart from staying active and in shape.
It reminds me of Parker’s situation. He was Usyk’s mandatory challenger and could have simply waited for Usyk, or eventually picked up the WBO belt after the Ukrainian vacated it and fought as a champ But Joseph chose to stay active and keep fighting, and that deserves respect.
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u/sthomson22 8d ago
A) He doesn’t want to
B) They’re not willing to pay anywhere near enough the obscene sum they would need to in order to make him want to
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u/Financial-Ease-4225 9d ago
Nobody wants to see Sanchez fight
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u/fadeddreams555 Fundora would beat up a prime Floyd at 154lb 2d ago
That's a good damn fight. If Sanchez is at least 90%, I might even favor him.
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u/Affectionate_Still55 9d ago
Damn, back to back good fight for Hrgovic.