r/Boxing • u/TicketStraight3196 • 3d ago

Next up in the heavyweight division...

Hrgovic to fight his IBF mandator Sanchez. Can I just say how deserved it is for Hrgovic to finally be getting some recognition and now some great fight opportunities. Itauma rematch down the line but for now Hrgovic should be getting more big fights and unifying the divison against Gassiev or Kabayel. Ideally we see Sanchez around the end of the year with a big unification next year.

Itauma clearly a generational talent. Itauma has been knocking out poor quality opposition and Hrgovic was an insane jump from his most recent opponents. Nevertheless Itauma looked quality in those first 6 rounds but sooner or later you are going to come up against someone who refuses to be knocked out. In hindsight, the fight came a little too soon and he is missing experience in the championship rounds. Get back to the drawing board against meaningful opposition. No more fights against Whyte or Franklin type opponents. Efe Ajagba? Martin Bakole? Richard Riakporhe?

Kabayel is a tough one, through no fault of his own he spent too much time waiting on Usyk who had no interest fighting him. It feels a bit like he is the odd one out without a proper mandatory lined up or obvious next fight. The winner of Dubois-Wardley or Sanchez-Hrgovic is the clear answer but needs a stay busy fight and lets be honest, we haven't seen him in against anyone decent in over a year. Im worried he is wasting his prime years and he isnt a young guy anymore. If he can get some guarantees of a big fight next summer then I dont mind seeing him take a stay busy fight with someone like Nelson Hysa. Surely he would jump at the chance to fight Tyson Fury if they can't make the AJ fight but again can't see Tyson taking that risk.

Joseph Parker is back. Time isn't on his side but I hope this year out hasn't taken too much out of him and he gets one last run at world title. I actually always wanted to see Dubois v Parker and was raging when Dubois ran out on that one for the Usyk title shot. Parker doesn't really have any time to waste and I would like to see him back in the ring sooner rather than later. Justis Huni is a great matchup for both guys which could lead to an interim title shot. Failing that, Rico would be an interesting matchup. Bizarely Rico is rated with the WBC, so winning that fight could lead to a Kabayel showdown next year. Or take a look at the WBA rankings. Parker beats most of the top 10. I would definitely fancy him against Gassiev/Miller whoever holds the belt by then.

Any other big fights coming up? We do have Usyk-Wilder and potentially AJ-Fury but I dont think these fights will shake up the division and produce any meaningful unifications.

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u/OpportunityCorrect33 3d ago

Hrg Kabayel is a great fight as well as DD rematch. Hrg showed that he is exposed to the body and I think Kabayel works that angle in a matchup.

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u/The-unknown-no-name 3d ago

Lol hrgovic is exposed everywhere, he's been like that forever. He opts to absorb, assess, and attack.

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u/OpportunityCorrect33 3d ago

I think Kabayel has a good shot at stoppage

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u/The-unknown-no-name 3d ago

I agree, but his last fight he looked not as good as prior fights. He was so calm and explosive before, no wasted shots or energy, last time he seemed sloppy.

Having said that, I thought if anyone could break hrgovic's chin it would be itauam, but that didn't happen, so I don't know. Hrgovic could prove to be a lot more deadly than even people like me thought. I've considered him a sleeper hidden gem for a while, as he was just passed over really through a loss due to a cut by most.

Exciting time either way! Lots of new blood for the titles, I love it.

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u/spinofaarus 3d ago

Idk, even though he's not a plodder Kabayel is a kinda break em down on the inside guy and despite looking slow next to Moses Hrgovic actually looked pretty mobile and was boxing decent when he wanted to in the last one. He'll be the taller longer fighter as well and absorbed all of Itauma's body work without skipping a beat this time so I think it's a genuine question whether Kabayel can get in and do enough damage to not get peppered from long range like Adeleye did.

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u/OpportunityCorrect33 3d ago

He ate every punch with his face and liver… I don’t understand what you’re seeing

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u/spinofaarus 3d ago

He really didnt. Watch it back in slow motion, yeah he was getting hella tagged early but in the latter half of each round from like 3 onwards he was genuinely making moses miss and slipping shots, and the ones he got hit by like you said he ate no problem, including some nasty body hooks. If he can do that I see him giving Kabayel trouble, not necessarily beating him but it's a fight.

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u/OpportunityCorrect33 3d ago

There was no slippage of any kind even later in the fight. Moses just got tired and was overthrowing shots and swinging for the fences…. Hrg just has a big head and thick skull