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Heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma is seen as the UK's next world champion by some fans. They're impressed with the knockouts the fringe contender is scoring, but he hasn't fought anyone yet to show if he's for real.
His promoter selects him carefully, as he should, but fans may be disappointed when Itauma finally faces someone with real talent.
Promoted by Frank Warren, 20-year-old Itauma (11-0, 9 KOs) knocked out journeyman Demsey McKean in the first round last week in Riyadh and has his British fans excited about his potential. He initially dropped McKean with a left to the back of his head and knocked him down again.
The next big thing?
Some boxing fans were talking about Itauma breaking Mike Tyson's record to become the fastest heavyweight champion of the world. This is NOT happening. Itauma CANNOT break Mike Tyson's record unless he gets a world title shot in the next four months. Mike Tyson was 20 and four months old when he won his first world title, stopping WBC champion Trevor Berbick in the second round on November 22, 1986.
It would be a bad idea to put Moses Itauma with heavyweight champions Daniel Dubois or Alexander Usyk. He would probably be exposed, just like his brother Carol Itauma.
It is still too early to tell if Itauma will make it because he has yet to fight a world class heavyweight and he is not 6’2″ tall. Itauma's brother, Karol, also looked good initially, but when he faced a decent welterweight, Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna, he was knocked out in the fifth round.
Every fighter looks good initially when facing the opposition that Moses fights.
Drinking The Kool-Aid
“They're looking at this kid as the next great heavyweight to come out of England, and maybe they're right,” Teddy Atlas said in his channelspeaking of 19-year-old Moses Itauma. “Ben Davison is the coach. He is the same guy who trains (Anthony) Joshua and is doing a good job with him.
“His talent is inescapable. He doesn't look like a big hitter until he hits you. He (Itauma) has a chance to break Mike Tyson's record and become the youngest heavyweight of all time. He's only 11-0, though.”
Itauma is a worthy contender, but I don't see him winning a world title unless he follows the path of Kubrat Pulev and Mahmoud Char by taking the WBA “regular” heavyweight title. It doesn't take much talent to win this belt. As long as Usyk and Dubois are around, Itauma won't win any of the prestigious belts.
If some of the other contenders like Agit Kabayel or Martin Bakole get a world title, I don't see him beating any of those guys. Itauma is a good top contender but NOT the next British Heavyweight Champion. He won't replace the questionable Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua as the UK's next star.
“He has a great promoter, Frank Warren,” Atlas said of Itauma. “He has the talent, but he doesn't have the experience to fight Usyk or Dubois.
He has speed to go with that (power). He is calm, confident and his technique is solid. They did a good job with it. You have to have good technique if you want to have talent. He showed me he was smart,” Atlas said.
