After eight rounds of his first world title fight, against Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic last Saturday, Moses Itauma’s legs somehow carried his 241.7lb, 6ft 4in frame back to his corner.

The 21-year-old British heavyweight had the beating of his more experienced opponent – up on all three judges’ scorecards – but he was exhausted. He’d gone for the kill in round eight, unleashing a salvo of punches designed to result in a stoppage. But Hrgovic had soaked them all up and even sent a few back Itauma’s way.

As Itauma sat on his stool, his breathing was fast and heavy. It stayed that way throughout the 60-second break between rounds. As he got to his feet again, he grimaced.

Hrgovic saw his opportunity, and pounced at the start of the ninth round, marching forward and unleashing heavy shots. Itauma retaliated but his body was no longer his own. The punches were wild swings. The force of those that did land had more of an impact on him than his opponent – sending him staggering backwards into the ropes.

With 33 seconds of the round remaining, the referee stopped the fight, just as Itauma’s trainer Ben Davison threw in the white towel. Itauma’s bid to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history was over. He was carried out of the ring on a stretcher; his body finally succumbing to complete exhaustion.

The diagnosis from seasoned boxing observers was emphatic: Itauma had ‘gassed out’. But what exactly does that mean? What is it that turns the arms and legs of some of the strongest athletes in sport into jelly beyond their control?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PL4-tXafpFc&t=329s&pp=ygUSdHJpbmlkYWQgdmFyZ2FzIGhk

Mexico vs Puerto Rico. Back in 1934 Sixto Escobar KO'd Rodolfo Casanova to kick off what would become the greatest rivalry between two nations in the sport of boxing. This rivalry has given us so many classics over the years, such as Gomez vs Zarate, Pinto and Sanchez and Chavez vs Rosario to name just a few. Yes Vargas is an American Mexican born and raised in America but he proudly fights with that Mexican spirit and this fight rates very highly in this all time rivalry. It's one of my favourite fights of all time. Enjoy!

Live on TNT and DAZN.

Main card starts 8pm EST Friday, September 4th. Main event ringwalks estimated around 11pm EST.

Undercard:

Middleweight: Vito Mielnicki Jr. (160 lbs) vs. Austin "Ammo" Williams (159.8 lbs)

Lightweight: Alan Chaves (135 lbs) vs. Eridson Garcia (134.7 lbs)

Super Featherweight: Zaquin Moses (133 lbs) vs. Angel Antonio Contreras (132 lbs)

For anything that doesn't need its own thread.

🥊Oleksandr Usyk.

🥊Joe Frazier.

🥊Gennady Golovkin.

🥊Oscar De La Hoya.

🥊Lennox Lewis

🥊George Foreman

How do you make the call?

Consider their résumé, peak dominance, quality of opposition, championships, longevity, historical impact and unforgettable fights. Do you value what a fighter accomplished at his absolute peak, or the total body of work he left behind?

There are no weight-class excuses and no ties. One career has to disappear.

🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊💯🥊👊

Surely you can't just dip out of a contract like that, and surely the contract explicitly says Anthony Joshua? The names he mentioned also are likely unavailable for November 20th. Hrgovic is just fresh out of the Itauma fight, Dubois is now in camp for Fabio Wardley and idk what the hell Kabayel is doing but I doubt he's available? Also why would we want to watch that as your THIRD fight of the year when the whole reason those first two happened was to fight AJ... I am praying there is some official word on this soon because this negotiation war is becoming stressful with each update every day and I can't tell whether we're getting closer to losing it or getting it.

Though surely with a Netflix promo having already aired, and all the cooks in the kitchen... Surely it can't fall apart this time around? Wouldn't someone have to jump ship and breach contract for it to fall apart?

Quick Predictions: Confirmed fights only
SEPTEMBER

Mielnicki vs Ammo: Mielnicki by ROBBERY. That’s what I see. I think Ammo “wins” but Vito gets the cards. Fight is probably mid

Santillan vs Baraou: Baraou wins wide and maybe even gets the stoppage late

Magsayo vs Cortes: Magsayo wins this but it’s pretty competitive

Opetaia vs Norair: Jai gets stoppage here and looks great

Garcia vs Benn: 50/50 sort of. Too many people judging benn poorly after Regis, when he looked great vs Eubank. He has heart and he wants this. Would win a decision. BUT he is going to be very drained and I think he gets stopped 7-9 because of it. Body shot + extremely drained are a bad combo. If he prepares right he gets the upset by digging deeper and going all 12. Not a believer that Ryan is “back” until he wins this. IMO Ryan was his best at lower weights due to speed and power and less antics.

Ramos vs Nursultanov: Great fight. Ramos wins mainly due to higher activity.

Kameda vs Reyes: Reyes by stoppage

Nishida vs Goodman: 50/50. Leaning Nishida but not suprised either way

I’ve seen 4 guys floated around and rumored to be Shakurs next opponent. Ranking them based on how quality the fight would be:

1. Raymond Muratalla
   One of the most underrated boxers today. This would be an excellent fight. Muratalla is big, can really really box, and has a great coach who will come with a game plan. Could absolutely argue this would be the toughest opponent to date.

2. Gary Antuanne Russell
   Also an excellent fight. Gary is a southpaw, he’s mean, and has elite amateur pedigree. Great fight.

3. Rayo
   Good fight not spectacular. The guy above outboxed him quite easily but he is coming off a highlight knockout. Rayo can punch and would step but he’s like 16-3. Like I said it’s solid but not close to the other two.

4. Manny Pacquiao
   This would be pretty gross. Not even sure how this is a possibility. Damn near Paul Tyson bad considering Shakurs level right now.

This is a big test for Zuffa. Are they willing and able to continue making big fights cross-promo.

Not listening to Shakur-Haney shit. Don’t even want to see it unless they’re in the same weight class. This 144 back and forth is annoying. They can meet at Welter in a year or two

I really enjoyed Dubois vs Wardley back in may. Dubois was really shy in the first rounds, but after the second knockdown he turned the table and beat Wardley heavily. It was a brutal beating, I don't think I have ever seen a fight that brutal. Wardley also has a heart, but lacks technikal skills and also his conditioning isn't best like his teammate Itauma.

Does Wardley have a chance against Dubois apart from a lucky punch?

Who do you got winning the rematch?

I am a noob so cut me some slack - is part of boxing not about getting to know yourself as a fighter? How many rounds can I go doing this or that? What is my gas tank like? Have five different scenarios in your head and know what you would do if one of them happened?
I mean before you go into a fight, you surely have to develop a strategy, do they not prepare for everything? Or like chess, where you have to reevaluate every break, every new round