This Weekend's Boxing (Garcia vs. Benn - August 12th)

[NeverYield]

Yes I see an overhaul coming, Ben Davison needs to go, tactically now he's proven himself to be lost at sea a few times.

Why not tell Itauma listen you're winning the rounds but the KO isn't there, stop loading up and box him. 

I did think last night whilst watching it appears when faced with better opposition Itauma is much more a quick, sharp and dangerous puncher than a one hitter quitter with raw power. I agree he doesn't have the same physicality. Go back and watch Mike Tyson at 19, vs James "Quick" Tillis, it's worlds apart. 

They definitely need a plan, he needs to start getting the rounds in, both in camp and in the ring, stopping knock over jobs and then having your team massage your ego is dangerous, even if you can stop these guys in rd1 you need to take them to the last round and stop them then, build your ring experience up. 

[jimufctna24]

8 hours ago, NeverYield said:

I personally think its obvious his team are not making him do 12 rounds enough in camp.

Which is something you can change. A Moses that can comfortably do 12 rounds is extremely dangerous. 

And with experience he will learn you cant stop them all. He could have pivoted to outpointing Hrg tonight,but he kept trying to load up and stop him

I think Itauama could have done 12 rounds fairly comfortably last night. Punch stats can be misleading, but they show that in terms of power punches thrown, his workrate was insane.

I've seen someone cite Usyk's power punches against Joshua in their rematch, and note that Itauma threw far more power punches in the opening 6 rounds last night than Usyk managed in that fight. Even after round 6, Itauma was still throwing plenty of power punches, in fact he didn't really ease off in that regard.

Apparently at one point, Wylie was trying to slow Itauma down, yet he tried to force the stoppage at the end of the 8th, which appears to have tired him out altogether (and perhaps led to the leg injury). I'm not claiming Itauma's conditioning doesn't need improvement, but for now, I think pacing and too much gusto are his key weaknesses. 

 

Edited August 30 by jimufctna24

[NeverYield]

3 minutes ago, jimufctna24 said:

I think Itauama could have done 12 rounds fairly comfortably last night. Punch stats can be misleading, but they show that in terms of power punches thrown, his workrate was insane.

I've seen someone cite Usyk's power punches against Joshua in their rematch, and note that Itauma threw far more power punches in the opening 6 rounds last night than Usyk managed in that fight. Even after round 6, Itauma was still throwing plenty of power punches.

Apparently at one point, Wylie was trying to slow Itauma down, yet he tried to force the stoppage at the end of the 8th, which appears to have tired him out altogether (and perhaps led to the leg injury). I'm not claiming Itauma's conditioning doesn't need improvement, but for now, I think pacing and too much gusto are his key weaknesses. 

 

He probably could have done if he was sensibly instructed to stop head hunting and stop loading up, he began loading up and missing a few times which is more draining than actually landing the shot, but he kept searching for a KO that wasn't there payed the price for it. But I do still think it's plain to see he is not doing 12 enough in camp, and doesn't train for it, and the fact he's said as much himself, "i can't remember the last time i did 12 rounds in sparring" is crazy. I must have missed Wylie telling him that. 

Either way you cut it for me, a young 21 year old who's on the come up shouldn't be burning out at any point in the fight, and even if they tire not to the extremes that he did. 

100% agree on the pacing, if you know you're not at your strongest over 12, then you need to pace yourself, and I think it's fair to say Itauma probably isn't going to be his strongest over 12, people have spotted the signs before last night, and again, he's also admitted he doesn't really enjoy the cardio side of training. If your MO is going to be load up and stop 'em then you need to learn how to pace yourself for sure, which again is something he can easily fix. 

[jimufctna24]

50 minutes ago, NeverYield said:

Yes I see an overhaul coming, Ben Davison needs to go, tactically now he's proven himself to be lost at sea a few times.

I don't know what to make of Davison. He has Wylie in him, who is clearly a boxing savant. Yet, I often can't tell how accountable Davison and Co are for his fighters' losses. 

For example, Joshua and Davison was touted as a good fit on the grounds that Joshua follows instructions well. At first, it did look to be a good fit, with Joshua battering Wallin and looking great while doing so. Then came the Dubois fight where Joshua completely capitulated. How much of that was Joshua cracking under pressure? (some long suspected Joshua would fall apart if taken outside of his comfort zone), and how much of it was Davison's guidance? 

It's a similar case for last night. I haven't heard all the instructions given to Itauma in the corner, but was Davison trying to slow Itauma down, if at all? As I posted above, I have read that Wylie was at one point, but should they have done so earlier? 

[Egg Shen]

Absolute worst scenario type stuff for Moses in ring. He may learn from it going forward but that will be a damaging loss. To completely empty the tank like that and still have a monster like Hrgovic walking you doing that you threw the kitchen sink at must have been a pretty scary and humbling experience.

I don't know if it has anything to do with Davison's guidance or more than Moses simply isn't used to having someone stand up to his power. He could probably have cruised 12 rounds if he'd conserved energy, he probably could have from round 6 too and boxed to a decision but he tried everything he could to knock Hrgovic out. Hrgovic is a fucking Terminator, incredible chin.

As much as it sucks to see Moses lose though, it was still another cracking, dramatic heavyweight fight, they all seem to be delivering at the moment. 

Undercard was ok. Noakes/Berinchyk was decent but it was apparent early that Berinchyk didn't have the fire power to make it interesting. 

Moses Jolly had a huge win pinched from him. I'd imagine he did enough to get signed by Queensbury though, he deserves a crack. Likeable lump.

Ursu/Vaughan was the pick of the undercard, really like the look of Ursu, great combination of slickness despite being a bit of a horrible fucker in there.

Still don't know what to make of Nelson Hysa. I see stuff about his fights being "fixed", and last night's kind of leaned into that a little. It was a decent shot but Narmo was acting like he'd been knocked out by a sledge hammer. Who knows? There's questions there, Albanian boxing is shady. Hysa ain't going far at 42, but they'll use him as much as they can cause he sells tickets.

[wandshogun09]

Anyone seen the interview with Itauma where he’s saying he’s not sure he’s ever done 12 rounds in the gym? Christ, what were they actually doing in camp? If they weren’t having him do 12 for a big, durable lump like Hrgovic that’s an astounding level complacency and overconfidence. Even if you think he’s gonna blow the guy out of there, you’d surely prepare for worst case scenarios. Mental. 

[NeverYield]

Yes I've seen it. It's absolutely ridiculous and if you think you're going to get to the top of the heavyweight division because everyone in your immediate circle is comparing you to Mike Tyson and you're a sharp puncher then good luck. Not happening. I get you can't be too negative about a 21 year olds first major loss, but fucking hell if you can't even get the basics right then what are you even doing?

I've seen a similar interview somewhere where he has said he "doesn't like the cardio side" of training. 

A loss should not be the end of the world, in boxing unfortunately it can follow you around for ever, which of course is bullshit, but after the way they've bigged him up and the manner in which he lost I feel if he doesn't have it in him to totally shake this off mentally then he is in trouble. 

You can't be the guy who only likes things going their way, you must expect the heaviest resistance possible, and train for it. 

Edited August 31 by NeverYield

[jimufctna24]

3 hours ago, wandshogun09 said:

Anyone seen the interview with Itauma where he’s saying he’s not sure he’s ever done 12 rounds in the gym? Christ, what were they actually doing in camp? If they weren’t having him do 12 for a big, durable lump like Hrgovic that’s an astounding level complacency and overconfidence. Even if you think he’s gonna blow the guy out of there, you’d surely prepare for worst case scenarios. Mental. 

Your last sentence sums it up for me.

Someone involved underestimated Hrgovic's durability imo. Whether that was the trainer or Itauma not commiting to cardio training as NeverYield's post above indicates could have been the case, or one of the two parties resisting slowing down/steering Itauma's work during the fight, it proved to be the wrong choice. As Hrgovic's durability held up.

Heck, I don't entirely blame them from expecting Itauma to blow through Hrgovic. I knew Hrgovic could take a decent dig, but I was shocked that he took some of the shots Itauma landed on him. But this was a fight that I feel the Itauma/Davison team could have won had they made better decisions. 

Edited August 31 by jimufctna24

[Egg Shen]

That one uppercut Moses landed right on the bell (maybe after round 6) was the moment i knew Hrgovic might get him, that shot would have dropped a horse. Hrgovic barely blinked.

[jimufctna24]

Garcia vs Benn this weekend then.

Hopefully this is the fight where Benn is well and truly humbled.

[NeverYield]

I think it will be.

Benn looks terrible at the weight from the recent pics and videos Ive seen, way too tight at the weight. If hes still got any more to lose god help him.

[Gooner]

Garcia wins by KO or stoppage between rounds 5/6. Benn is primed to be hit with a left hook and Garcia throws that shot brilliantly. It won't affect or humble Benn. It will be just how he was weight drained, risked it and how he is not fighting ever again at 147lbs and is going back to 160lbs or step further up to 168lbs to face Eubank Jr in a third fight. 

[Egg Shen]

I've picked Garcia since it was announced, but you just never know what you're gonna get with the guy. If Benn can get in his way and rough him up I could definitely see Garcia's heart getting broken. If this stays a boxing match, Garcia should school him. I do see Garcia possibly hitting the deck though in abit of a flash knock down deal.

[Egg Shen]

Benn/Garcia walking at 3.50am for anyone man enough to stay up.

[jimufctna24]

13 minutes ago, Egg Shen said:

Benn/Garcia walking at 3.50am for anyone man enough to stay up.

I haven't stayed up for a fight since Crawford vs Canelo. 

I may wake up early for this one.