Filip Hrgovic challenges young Moses Itauma for big showdown

Filip Hrgović (19-1, 14 KOs) near the ringing successful Riyadh with different victory, showing that the bronze medalist from Sesvete is inactive a pugnacious and resilient heavyweight. His opponent, David Adeleye (14-2, 13 KOs), proved to beryllium tougher than galore expected; helium took astir the full evening’s punishment, but helium lasted each 10 rounds and adjacent earnestly shook Filip successful the eighth.

In that eighth round, Hrgović archetypal sent the Briton to the level with a close hand; it seemed that everything was over. But alternatively of closing the deal, “El Animal” relaxed a small excessively much. 

Adeleye took vantage of this, feigning weakness, and exploded with a bid of 8 punches that would person breached astir immoderate heavyweight but Hrgović. The assemblage roared; Adeleye felt the blood, and Hrgović had to prevention the time with a clinch. In the end, helium consolidated and, successful the benignant of experienced boxers, brought the lucifer to an end; Judges' scorecards 99-91, 99-90, 99-90.

– I knocked him down and should person finished him. I was a small excessively relaxed; helium caught maine with a mates of bully punches and astir sent maine to the floor. It was a brainsick round. I'm atrocious I didn't decorativeness the occupation – Hrgović admitted to Queensberry aft the fight.

Although immoderate doubted the powerfulness of his punches, the world is different. Hrgović was punching with afloat unit and landing cleanly, which was seen and heard. Adeleye simply showed exceptional toughness and refused to spell down, putting himself successful the uncommon radical of heavyweights who tin past truthful overmuch fire.

A situation for the aboriginal star

The inevitable question is; what next? This large combatant openly mentioned the super-talented Moses Itauma, who had knocked retired Dillian Whyte the aforesaid night.

– Of people I would emotion that fight. He's a young aboriginal superstar, and I'm the toughest f***ing combatant successful the division. It would beryllium a large trial to spot if he's the caller Mike Tyson oregon if I'm the caller George Foreman. I'd emotion to fight, but it each depends connected Frank Warren and however overmuch he's going to pay,” Hrgović said.

While immoderate privation to spot Itauma spell consecutive to Oleksandr Usyk, realists reason that the Croatian boxer would beryllium the cleanable trial earlier the top; experienced, unsafe and pugnacious capable to amusement however acceptable the young Englishman truly is.