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Story of the Month: ‘Moses Itauma lost’
Who thought it could’ve happened?
Well, the guy screaming I called it, surely. That person wasn’t me.
Itauma was touted as the next guy, like the two or three previous next guys of the heavyweight division; he found himself getting stopped by Filip Hrgovic.
It was deflating if you were hoping we might have a star on our hands, and optimistic that anything can happen in boxing if you like surprises.
Nonetheless, the story of the month was simple: the great British heavyweight, Itauma, lost.
Honorable Mention: ’Claressa Shields, America’s Biggest Boxing Star’
Fighter of the Month: Filip Hrgovic
Overlooked, disrespected, and honestly forgotten about. Hrgovic entered the fight against Itauma as a formality, a credible name to vault Itauma into being in talks with guys like Oleksandr Usyk.
Afterward, we wonder what will happen to Itauma as Hrgovic took him into deep waters, and Itauma couldn’t swim. The amount of confidence to win a fight like this from the mental side of things, being so underestimated, to losing so many consecutive rounds, to pull off the upset is truly special.
Honorable MentionWilliam Zepeda
Fight of the Month: Reina Tellez-Jessica Barry
In no other words, they beat each other up. Tellez continues to be a very fun fighter, and though the broadcast harped on the toughness of Barry, it was the toughness of both that made this one special to me.
Honorable Mention: Brook Sibrian UD8 Lupita Medina
Knockout of the Month: Filip Hrgovic TKO9 Moses Itauma
No need for a description here; Hrgovic knocked out a perceived future superstar as a massive underdog.
Honorable Mention: Da’velle Smith KO Hakim Lopez, Jahmal Harvey KO Keb
Contender of the Month: Najee Lopez
What a year Lopez is having. He stopped Juan Carrillo, an Olympian, last month. He now has a win over a credible contender and a “Fight of the Year” type bout under his belt.
Honorable Mention: Atif Oberlton
Prospect of the Month: Gradus Kraus
Kraus continues to be an interesting fighter to watch. Even though Sean Hemphill came in overweight, he did what was asked of him against an opponent who might not have taken things as seriously as they should have. He is someone to have circled on your board of prospects.
Honorable Mention:
Trainer of the Month: Jay “Panda” Najar
Many, including myself, counted out William Zepeda against Lamont Roach Jr. Zepeda did what great fighters do, revive ones career, but also was lead by an outstanding young trainer who had a strong belief his fighter could do it.
While we saw some good trainers in action, Najar guiding Zepeda to victory stands out.
Honorable Mention: Gary Russell Jr, Abel Sanchez
Upset of the Month: Filip Hrgovic TKO9 Moses Itauma
Very few who didn’t have a horse in the race saw this outcome.
It will go down as a moment in history and could define both fighters.
Honorable Mention: Bernice Pereira DQ Caroline Veyre, Juan Carlos Becerril KO3 Dylan Capetillo
Round of the Month: Moses Itauma-Filip Hrgovic, round nine
It is what we will talk about for months. Hrgovic, an underrated heavyweight, stopping the next great heavyweight, Itauma, in the late rounds.
The Obscure Fight of the Month: Pierce O’Leary vs. Mark Chamberlain
A good British fight in which two proud fighters properly beat each other up.
Honorable Mention: Reito Takahashi TKO Shu Utsuki
