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Filip Hrgovic survives horror cut to outclass brave Brit David Adeleye on Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte undercard
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CUT IT OUT Filip Hrgovic survives horror cut to outclass brave Brit David Adeleye on Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte undercard
DAVID ADELEYE courageously climbed off the deck against heavyweight boogieman Filip Hrgovic but was beaten on points.
The fearless Ladbroke Road lad took on the 2016 Olympic bronze winner in Saudi and had to drag himself off the sand in round eight.
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Filip Hrgovic dropped David Adeleye on the way to a points win
Credit: Getty
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Hrgovic was badky cut from his right eye
Credit: Getty
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He threw the kitchen sink at the respected veteran but the three ringside judges scored the bout 98-91, 99-90 and 99-90.
The West Londoner made the brave decision to start fast, pinging orthodox jabs up at the 6ft 6in Croatian's handsome and hard dome.
Hrgovic pushed him back with body attacks but when he popped out a limp jab, Adeleye landed the shot of the round, an overhand right, that should have banked the opener for him with the judges.
The only defeat on Hrgovic's 18-1 career came last year when he battered Daniel Dubois for a few rounds before being stopped over gruesome cuts around both eyes.
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And - by the second round - after dozens of decent straight jabs the right eye was ripped open again and leaking blood into his vision.
The bookies' favourite remained dangerous, plodding toward Adeleye like Adams Family butler Lurch.
But the Brit was picking him off at range, sometimes on the backfoot, and slashing further at the oozing wounds.
Hrgovic kept ploughing into the pugilist with the Portobello Road tattoo but Adeleye grinned back at his best blows.
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And just before the bell, when looking pinned into a neutral corner, the Englishman landed a beautiful left hook - punch of the night hitherto - and buzzed the bloodied giant.
Both men wasted time and energy in the fourth, Hrgovic hammering blows into Adeleye's inked abs or high guard and the left hook replies missing by miles.
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Hrgovic showed glimpses of his 2016 Olympic pedigree in the fifth but his body-attack strategy was baffling.
And before the sixth even started, both 17st hulks looked exhausted and started cuddling more than punching.
Hrgovic dominated a dull sixth, when Adeleye was running on fumes and looking increasingly vulnerable and ringside Derek Chisora yelled 'you need a knockout, bro' before the seventh started.
Adeleye listened and started the session with some crisp scoring shots but it was short lived as his engine betrayed him again after around 30 seconds.
Adeleye was whacked by a massive right hand at the start of the eighth but he stuck his tongue out and roared in the silent little arena before getting dropped and taking a count.
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Brilliantly he bounced back up to his white boots and then smashed Hrgovic around the ring until he nearly collapsed, but our boy could not score a revenge knockdown before the bell.
Hrgovic was cautious and clever in the final two sessions but Adeleye emptied the tank and came up just short in a joyride he can be proud of.
