Moses Itauma

[tony1234]

Have read a couple of times now that he is being compared to Iron Mike...I guess that's based on age currently...is it justified in any way as only seen the odd Moses KO so can't really comment..

Tyson terrified most boxers before the first bell, Itauma doesn't give off that vibe and the more he steps up the less his opponents will roll over.

[SeanBrennan]

Apologies for the melancholic mantra this evening forum!

Quite the opposite mate - what a powerful read this all is (and mods, surely this deserves its own thread rather than risk being 'buried' in the original one?)

I think you've done 2 things we should all be grateful for:
1. Brought a real sense of perspective - easy for us to get caught up bickering/arguing in here about what in the scheme of things are such trival issues and this really helps everyone reset and show some solidarity and empathy.
2. Relating to the above, you've shown the strength of being willing to be vulnerable. Takes real courage to talk about these things so openly and honestly, and i salute you for that. What a great example to set

thank you sincerely, means a lot.

[Roars Like Me]

Have read a couple of times now that he is being compared to Iron Mike...I guess that's based on age currently...is it justified in any way as only seen the odd Moses KO so can't really comment..

Tyson terrified most boxers before the first bell, Itauma doesn't give off that vibe and the more he steps up the less his opponents will roll over.

Not sure why that comparison was made in that case but thanks....let's hope he does well regardless

[JC]

Have read a couple of times now that he is being compared to Iron Mike...I guess that's based on age currently...is it justified in any way as only seen the odd Moses KO so can't really comment..

Tyson terrified most boxers before the first bell, Itauma doesn't give off that vibe and the more he steps up the less his opponents will roll over.

Not sure why that comparison was made in that case but thanks....let's hope he does well regardless

The comparison is because he's said it's his aim to break Tyson's record as youngest HW champ.

[SeanBrennan]

remember when Hughie Fury said the same?

[gregregegg]

Anyone know who Moses is fighting this weekend?

[forcefraser]

remember when Hughie Fury said the same?

That was before he realised his man strength was missing

[The_Don1]

Anyone know who Moses is fighting this weekend?

Dan Garber, the fella that very nearly went the distance with Thomas Carty.

[SeanBrennan]

remember when Hughie Fury said the same?

That was before he realised his man strength was missing

you wait til he's 53 Fraser, you'll rue those words!

[tony1234]

Anyone know who Moses is fighting this weekend?

Dan Garber, the fella that very nearly went the distance with Thomas Carty.

Not very ambitious match making, at this rate he will be 100-0 and not even a sniff of an English title let alone a World one

[gregregegg]

Normally I would be fine with the matchmaking for a kid. Especially considering he is booked may 18 in Saudi…

But…. The amount of shit they chatted about being fast tracked… unless they wheel out fres for a WBA title shot he isn’t breaking any records.

[SeanBrennan]

Normally I would be fine with the matchmaking for a kid. Especially considering he is booked may 18 in Saudi…

But…. The amount of shit they chatted about being fast tracked… unless they wheel out fres for a WBA title shot he isn’t breaking any records.

good old Fres, has fought like a warrior in the courts, but not bothered to fight in a ring for 10 years.

[wrighty]

Normally I would be fine with the matchmaking for a kid. Especially considering he is booked may 18 in Saudi…

But…. The amount of shit they chatted about being fast tracked… unless they wheel out fres for a WBA title shot he isn’t breaking any records.

good old Fres, has fought like a warrior in the courts, but not bothered to fight in a ring for 10 years.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Moses Itauma appreciates Demsey McKean agreeing to fight him

Confidence is a crucial part of any top fighter’s make-up. It affects how they handle themselves around others and how they approach various situations. It also affects how others approach them.

Moses Itauma, 10-0 (8 KOs), has carried with him a quiet air of self-assurance since his professional debut.

The 19-year-old heavyweight prodigy fights Australia’s Demsey McKean, 22-1 (14 KOs), in Riyadh on December 21st and is approaching the step-up in opposition with his usual self-belief.

“In my mind, I always go into a fight thinking, ‘I’m gonna win and I’m gonna win quite easily.’ It's kind of has been that but when I turn up, he might shock me and the fight might go left,” Itauma, 10-0 (8 KOs), told Queensberry. “I’m a bit delusional until I get closer to the fight and I’m a bit more prepared for outcomes that might not be my way.”

Itauma appears to address every part of his fighting life in the same matter-of-fact way and already seems to have established a solid grasp of the way that boxing - and heavyweight boxing in particular - works.

Itauma would like to move quickly but has learned that there is a pecking order.

The big four - Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua - monopolize the world title scene and are likely to be tied up in their own round robin for the foreseeable future. Just behind them, a lengthy list of talented heavyweights are jostling for position, desperate to prove themselves worthy of a lucrative title shot at some point in the next 12 months.

Fighters in the next tier down are much more open to the prospect of fighting a dangerous youngster like Itauma. They know that a shock win over a talented but inexperienced fighter would give their career a significant boost. They also know that they will be well paid for taking the risk.

After blowing through the normally durable Mariusz Wach in July, McKean represents a perfectly sensible step up for Itauma. The 6ft 6in southpaw has lost only once - a 12th round stoppage to Filip Hrgovic last year - and will still retain hope of establishing himself in that second tier of heavyweights.

Itauma is acutely aware of the reputation he has already established but has also realised that it is impossible for a young heavyweight prospect to please everybody.

“I beat Maruisz Wach and everyone was saying, ‘He’s this, he’s that. We need another step up.’ I’m fighting Demsey McKean. Everyone’s gonna say it’s a good step up. I’ll knock Dempsey McKean out and then everyone’s gonna be saying, ‘Ah, but he hasn’t boxed in [a long time].’ I’m just here doing my job. I’ve called out numerous names - domestically and internationally - and this is the one fighter that has stepped up to the plate, so I’m kind of happy about that,” he said.

“You’ve gotta put yourself in their shoes. Let’s say I was to fight Johnny Fisher or someone like that; or even someone closer [to the top] like Joseph Parker. Why would they want to fight me? They could possibly end their career by fighting a 19-year-old. They got no W’s out of it. If they win, they were supposed to do that. If they lose, it’s like, ‘Ah, I’ve lost to a 19-year-old. I can’t bring my career back.’ I kind of understand it and that’s why I’m very appreciative of Demsey McKean taking this fight.”

[MasterG]

Their gonna rush this kid. Are they trying to beat Mike Tyson's youngest heavyweight champion age?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Their gonna rush this kid. Are they trying to beat Mike Tyson's youngest heavyweight champion age?

That was the plan originally, when he started. I'm sure they wanted him to have around 10 fights a year like Tyson did

[Controversial]

I can't see him beating Tyson's record, he will need to win a world title by mid 2025, I can't see that happening.

EDIT: 26th May 2025 to be precise.


.

[mickey1975]

Their gonna rush this kid. Are they trying to beat Mike Tyson's youngest heavyweight champion age?

He's very, very good. I don't think they'll bother with the record, though.

[big lennox]

He looks the real deal to me. Very, very good indeed.

[tony1234]

I can't see him beating Tyson's record, he will need to win a world title by mid 2025, I can't see that happening.

EDIT: 26th May 2025 to be precise.


.

Does an IBO or similar count ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

I can't see him beating Tyson's record, he will need to win a world title by mid 2025, I can't see that happening.

EDIT: 26th May 2025 to be precise.


.

Does an IBO or similar count ?

or WBA regular and Interim

I mean only now I consider Dubois a world champion.

[funso banjo baby]

I can't see him beating Tyson's record, he will need to win a world title by mid 2025, I can't see that happening.

EDIT: 26th May 2025 to be precise.


.

Does an IBO or similar count ?

Only the linear world title counts. Tyson unified the alphabets and then won the title beating Spinks. For itauma it would equate to beating Dubois, Bakole and maybe Zhang (if they held the big alphabet crowns....
.... and then destroying Usyk in 1 round for the linear title.

Shouldn't be too hard for Moses.

[forcefraser]

Is this boy the next big thing?

Getting huge props from all and sundry. Not beaten a man with a pulse yet as a pro.

With Whittaker in mind I'll wait til he fights McKeen before forming an opinion. Not that McKeen is as big a test as Cameron was for Whittaker

[JC]

I can't see him beating Tyson's record, he will need to win a world title by mid 2025, I can't see that happening.

EDIT: 26th May 2025 to be precise.


.

Does an IBO or similar count ?

Only the linear world title counts. Tyson unified the alphabets and then won the title beating Spinks. For itauma it would equate to beating Dubois, Bakole and maybe Zhang (if they held the big alphabet crowns....
.... and then destroying Usyk in 1 round for the linear title.

Shouldn't be too hard for Moses.

If we are only counting the lineal, Tyson isn’t the youngest HW champion, Floyd Patterson is. Tyson was youngest to win a belt.

Although Tyson was very close to beating Patterson’s record.

[joshj909]

It all comes down to whether Frank wants to gamble Dubois' belt on Itauma being the next big thing or not. Dubois will obviously want Usyk/Fury should he beat Joshua again but Frank may be looking beyond Dubois and onto Itauma already.