Itauma, 14-0(12) comes off an impressive win over Jermain Franklin, while Hrgovic, a decade the older man, is coming off a straightforward win over Dave Allen. At 20-1(15) the Croatian has been stopped just once, this in a bloody affair with Daniel Dubois. Itauma is aiming to put Hrgovic’s lights out tonight. And as powerful, accurate and varied a puncher as he is, Itauma might just do it. Hrgovic has a good chin yet he ain’t too hard to hit. And if a fighter, any fighter, fails to show his opponent due respect, he could find himself bang in trouble. Has Hrgovic, with his “kid” Talk, and his vow to send Itauma “back to school,” let his ego and his feeling of supremacy and superiority get the better of him? Might Hrgovic get a nasty shock when he feels Itauma’s power?
It’s a very interesting and intriguing fight, and Hrgovic has his supporters for sure. I don’t know about you and how strapped into the Itauma hype train you are, but I cannot see how a fan cannot have been hugely impressed by Itauma, this after so few fights. There is of course no substitute for experience, and Hrgovic carries the big edge here. But in terms of speed, athleticism, power, balance, ring IQ, and enthusiasm and ambition, doesn’t Itauma hold all the cards here? The vacant IBF title will be on the line, and with a win Itauma would become the second-youngest heavyweight champ after Mike Tyson.
Pick: Itauma to truly shine and impress us all again, this as he stops Hrgovic inside six rounds. It may not be a clean KO, and cuts suffered by Hrgovic could prove to be a major factor, but Itauma will win inside the distance.
