Moses Itauma has shown he can mix it with the division’s best and could be ready to face Oleksandr Usyk now, says promoter Frank Warren.
Warren, who has developed many top British fighters, believes the 21-year-old Itauma — still relatively inexperienced for a heavyweight — has the skills to take on the unbeaten, unified, former undisputed champion. “I fancy that fight. I’ll be honest with you, I fancy that fight right now. And I don’t rush anyone. If we could make that fight, I’d make that now,” Warren told Sky Sports.
Itauma’s recent demolition of Jermaine Franklin, capped by a spectacular knockout, underlined his status as a top prospect. Warren praised his composure, speed, boxing brain and maturity for his age: “He was brilliant. His composure, his speed, his boxing brain, everything, his ability and the maturity he showed for such a young fighter is unbelievable. He’s got such fast hands and he gets shots from unconventional angles as well.”
Warren added a bold prediction: “Provided he keeps winning, he will fight for the world title by the end of the year.”
That world-title shot might not necessarily come against Usyk. The Ukrainian could vacate a belt, make a mandatory defence of his WBC title against Agit Kabayel, pursue another unification — potentially against the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois for the WBO title — or explore other options. Warren noted the importance of timing: “At a good time as well, not when the guy’s really over the hill… In this heavyweight division in the last few years we’ve been getting the best fighting the best… They’re not over the hill guys. They’re on the rise.”
Itauma’s view is straightforward: “Usyk’s undefeated. He is what he is and he’s considered to be the best of his era by a lot of people. Go for that.”
Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki live on Sky Sports on Saturday June 6.