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Is Filip Hrgovic test the perfect match for Moses Itauma?
Filip Hrgovic came, saw and conquered in South Yorkshire on Saturday night - and with it, booked his ticket to likely greater riches.
The Croatian has long been self-assured in his own credentials, confident in his belief that he can dismiss any and all contenders.
By and large, the Rio 2016 star's career has seen his actions back up his words, his professional record near-spotless in the ring.
A lone loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024, when the doctors intervened, is effectively the only rough mark that he has not polished off.
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His reputation for hard rounds and tough stoppages speaks volumes - and more pertinantly, explains Moses Itauma's interest too.
The Briton is arguably no longer the future of the heavyweight division. With top-ranked spots aplenty, he is very much the present.
Hrgovic's win over Dave Allen at Doncaster's Eco-Power Stadium was a banana-skin easily navigated. Now, he wants business.
Now, Itauma looks to be his customer - but as the pair work their way towards a likely August bout, can they be the perfect match?
Why could Hrgovic be best for Itauma?
The big issue Queensberry Promotions boss Frank Warren has faced in shepherding his young talent comes down to the distance.
Itauma's prodigious skillset and raw power means that he has dismissed nearly every major foe he has faced with a blistering pace.
Jermaine Franklin, back in March, was meant to be the man to take him into deep waters. The American last just under five rounds.
Hrgovic therefore may be the man to stretch those muscles. Never stopped in his professional career, he brings a granite-like chin.
In turn, that sturdiness allows him to fire back at Itauma and test the latter in a theoretical way he has not faced yet. It's a win-win.
What happens if Itauma wins fast again?
That being said, Itauma's record of rapid-fire stoppages surely cannot be discounted against Hrgovic - and that is a concern of sorts.
Should Itauma get his opponent out inside three rounds, much as the Croatian did against Dave Allen, questions will be duly asked.
For one, any early stoppage would seriously dent Hrgovic's own reputation as a world title contender, pressure piled on his shoulders.
For another, it would raise serious questions over who is left for Itauma to honestly fight if that long-primed title shot does not materialise.
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Powerbrokers will hope that any bout between the two banks plenty of miles. If it doesn't, then headaches could yet be involved for both.
Could Hrgovic be a bridge too far?
On the other hand, there is an arguable gamble in placing Itauma against Hrgovic, even if logic suggests it is the perfect time for him.
Franklin represented the first quote-unquote live threat that the Briton has faced in his career - but the Croatian is another level up.
Like Itauma, Hrgovic has terrific ranks with the sport's major governing bodies, and a slew of impressive results under his belt to boot.
If anything, his extra decade of experience and superlative amateur pedigree would make him a narrow favourite to the casual fan.
A defeat for Itauma would not be the end of his world domination dreams. But certainly, a win for Hrgovic would reframe its axis too.
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