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 necessary 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 they’d even reached the two-minute mark of their battle on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch.
Itauma is keen to take care of his fast progress and would welcome a world title battle with IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.
“If the fight was to be presented to me I would take it, 100 per cent,” Itauma informed Sky Sports activities.
He does, although, consider that, as he works his means up the rankings, he’ll most likely have to attend 12 months or extra to get a world title shot, noting: “As of right now you need to be in position to fight for the belts.”
“I did actually ask Ben [Davison, his trainer] about this,” he revealed. “If the opportunity did present itself and we were to fight for a world title in the next year and a half, two years, would you take it? He was like, ‘yeah of course’. I needed to know that we’re all on the same page 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.
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Usyk used his scintillating boxing expertise to beat Fury on the judges’ scorecards and retain his heavyweight world titles
“I don’t think the fight would make sense for anyone really but you never know. The world might change in a year from now and maybe I will be in a position for them fights. But I wouldn’t really know,” he stated.
“Tyson, Usyk and Joshua have had three completely different paths and all achieved the same thing, heavyweight champion of the world. You have to take your hat off to all of them and just admire and then take everything from each one of them fighters and then put it into one. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.
“A few years in the past I would not have been capable of 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 acquired to be grateful.
“I kind of admire all the top guys. But I’m here to set my own path as well.”
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Dubois says he needs to battle all the highest guys as he targets an undisputed battle after his bout towards Joseph Parker
Regardless that 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.
“They all looked at each other like what is this kid doing in the ring with him. But then when the bell went it was a completely different story,” Itauma remembered.
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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 guess you can take a little bit from the sparring, but when you get the crowd involved, the 10-ounce gloves, no headguard, it’s a completely different story. I take a little bit away from it but not a lot.”
His coach Ben Davison, who has labored with Fury beforehand and presently with Joshua, is satisfied Itauma has all of the instruments to go away a legacy within the sport.
“There’s always buts and maybes, there are lots of things that need to be done along the way,” Davison informed Sky Sports activities.
“Getting there is hard, staying there is even harder. Keeping his mind on track, keeping himself focused and keeping the main thing the main thing is very important as well.
“But when he does the proper issues I feel there is a potential historic profession on the rise.”
