Stopping Hrgovic would eclipse Anthony Joshua's Martin win

Moses Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic on August 29 for the IBF heavyweight title. While winning the belt is the primary goal, a stoppage victory over the reigning champion would represent a more significant achievement than Anthony Joshua's previous title win.

In April 2016, Anthony Joshua secured the IBF title by stopping Charles Martin in two rounds. However, Martin was not an established champion at the time. He had acquired the vacant belt only three months prior after Vyacheslav Glazkov was forced to retire in the third round due to a knee injury. Martin never defeated a reigning champion to hold the title before losing it to Joshua.

Gareth A. Davies suggests that a stoppage of Hrgovic would carry more weight than Joshua's performance against Martin. He notes that because Hrgovic is a world champion, stopping him would constitute a much larger statement and a superior performance in comparison.

Hrgovic offers a level of resistance that Itauma has not yet encountered. The champion has competed against Daniel Dubois, Zhilei Zhang, and Joe Joyce. He is known for his physical strength, durability, and willingness to engage in exchanges when pressured.

Itauma's previous opponents, including Dillian Whyte and Jermaine Franklin, have not provided the same level of competition. If Itauma manages to stop Hrgovic, the victory would surpass Joshua's demolition of Martin because it would be achieved against a more accomplished heavyweight.