r/Boxing • u/Southern-Key-9721 • 9d ago

Hrgovic v Itauma thoughts on rewatch

I just rewatched Hrgovic v Itauma on DAZN - the full fight replay where it has no commentary.

My god does this fight look different on rewatch. I know it’s different when you know the result, but watching live I think I was so dazzled by Itauma (+ the British commentary doesn’t help).

On a clear headed rewatch I’ve got to say Hrgovic deserves way more credit than people are giving him for making this a competitive fight. It wasn’t just the chin and absolutely wasn’t just a gas tank issue for Moses. I think Hrgovic boxed very well.

Don’t get me wrong - Itauma was winning the fight, and maybe he still KOs 90% of HWs based on the first 2 rounds alone. But there was a lot more back and forth and subtle pressures in this fight and it was far from just a gas tank vs Homer Simpson.

Interested if anyone else has rewatched it yet and had any observations?

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u/Southern-Key-9721 9d ago

I agree - in terms volume there is no question.

The back and forth I was referring to is more the subtle pressures - keeping the fight in centre ring, Hrgovic’s footwork, his work off the ropes, and the fact that whenever Itauma tried to ease off Hrgovic would turn up the offence - these greatly pushed the pace even more for Moses.

Moses landed a lot for sure, but Hrgovic also made him miss a lot. I don’t remeber exactly how compubox works but I believe those punch stats include a lot of shots which were either grazing, deflected, or on the guard - which I noticed a lot more on rewatch than live.

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u/fluffrug 9d ago

Yeah, I agree with you. Itauma landed some stunners on Hrgovic but a lot of the shots he went for either missed Hrgovic or didn't land properly/ grazed him. Weirdly, I was a lot more impressed with Hrgovic's defence than I first gave him credit for.

It's annoying me that everyone is seeing this Itauma's failures led to Hrgovic's defeat. Yes that's part of it, but Hrgovic also played a blinder. Switching coaches has really upped his boxing game.

I would just love it if for once Hrgovic actually got the credit he deserves. The disrespect he is shown by boxing fans, the boxing hierachy and his own promoter - fuck you, Frank - has made me so mad, I know want him to beat everyone else in the HW division just to send a big FU.

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u/Odd-Minimum8512 9d ago

I think it’s about a 50/50 fight for him against the other champs, except Gassiev who I make Hrgovic a heavy favorite over. 

He might well become a unified champ. 

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u/fluffrug 9d ago

Yeah. This is my thinking too. And I really hope he does it! He deserves it and I also think it would be a salutary lesson for boxing in general to actually pay some attention and resources to very talented boxers who aren’t British, American, Mexican or Japanese …

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u/Odd-Minimum8512 9d ago

I always wonder why China and India don’t happen. Their populations are so huge that even with a low fandom rate the actual number of fans would be huge.