Moses Itauma has solely simply turned 20 however he’s already one of many extra terrifying prospects within the heavyweight division.
Demsey McKean was a world-level contender who had solely misplaced as soon as earlier than assembly Itauma, and that defeat got here towards Filip Hrgovic who was the obligatory challenger for the IBF title on the time.
McKean lasted into the twelfth spherical with Hrgovic however couldn’t make it by way of the primary with Itauma.
The younger Briton blazed by way of McKean, his feints and pace of hand an excessive amount of for the Australian as he completed McKean with a devastating arching left cross earlier than that they had even reached the two-minute mark of their battle on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch.
Itauma is keen to keep up his speedy progress and would welcome a world title battle with IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.
Daniel Dubois calls for a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk following the Ukrainian’s win over Tyson Fury
“If the battle was to be introduced to me I’d take it, 100 per cent,” Itauma instructed Sky Sports activities.
He does, although, consider that, as he works his approach up the rankings, he’ll most likely have to attend 12 months or extra to get a world title shot, noting: “As of proper now you should be in place to battle for the belts.”
“I did truly ask Ben [Davison, his trainer] about this,” he revealed. “If the chance did current itself and we have been to battle for a world title within the subsequent yr and a half, two years, would you’re taking it? He was like, ‘yeah in fact’. I wanted to know that we’re all on the identical web page right here.”
Itauma additionally thinks he’s unlikely to cross paths with Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury, each of whom are greater than 16 years his senior.
Usyk used his scintillating boxing expertise to beat Fury on the judges’ scorecards and retain his heavyweight world titles
“I do not assume the battle would make sense for anybody actually however you by no means know. The world may change in a yr from now and possibly I shall be able for them fights. However I would not actually know,” he mentioned.
“Tyson, Usyk and Joshua have had three fully completely different paths and all achieved the identical factor, heavyweight champion of the world. You need to take your hat off to all of them and simply admire after which take every little thing from every certainly one of them fighters after which put it into one. That is precisely what I am making an attempt to do.
“A few years in the past I would not have been in a position to have this place if it wasn’t for them guys that paved the best way. Anthony Joshua, he was the primary man to interrupt out the British boxing scene once more. I’ve simply obtained to be grateful.
“I sort of admire all the highest guys. However I am right here to set my very own path as effectively.”
Dubois says he desires to battle all the highest guys as he targets an undisputed battle after his bout towards Joseph Parker
Although he solely celebrated his twentieth birthday on December 28, Itauma has lengthy been forward of his time.
When he was nonetheless a schoolboy he was sparring world champions, like Lawrence Okolie and Anthony Joshua, elevating eyebrows when he arrived at elite gyms nonetheless at school uniform solely to point out off boxing expertise far past his years.
After sitting a GCSE he went straight in to spar Joe Joyce, the Olympic silver medallist who would go on to win the WBO interim heavyweight title.
“All of them checked out one another like what is that this child doing within the ring with him. However then when the bell went it was a totally completely different story,” Itauma remembered.
Former skilled boxer Kieran Farrell tells his story after being compelled into early retirement to serving to coach Dubois for his knockout win towards Anthony Joshua
Though he added: “For me, I assume you’ll be able to take a bit bit from the sparring, however while you get the group concerned, the 10-ounce gloves, no headguard, it is a fully completely different story. I take a bit bit away from it however not so much.”
His coach Ben Davison, who has labored with Fury beforehand and presently with Joshua, is satisfied Itauma has all of the instruments to depart a legacy within the sport.
“There’s all the time buts and maybes, there are many issues that have to be carried out alongside the best way,” Davison instructed Sky Sports activities.
“Getting there may be exhausting, staying there may be even more durable. Preserving his thoughts on monitor, conserving himself centered and conserving the principle factor the principle factor is essential as effectively.
“But when he does the proper issues I feel there is a potential historic profession on the rise.”
