Moses Itauma reached a major life milestone over the weekend as he turned 21 years old on Sunday (December 28).
The brilliant British heavyweight prodigy goes into 2026 with the world of heavyweight boxing at his feet and pundits purring about his incredible talents.
Itauma had another successful year in 2025, culminating in his first show-topping main event in Riyadh in August. Fair to say he aced that test by knocking out former world title challenger Dillian Whyte inside a round.
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Now Itauma (13-0 with 11 wins inside the first two rounds) is on the brink of a world title shot, ranked highly by the sanctioning bodies and with Saudi power broker Turki Alalshikh calling for a showdown with the great Oleksandr Usyk.
The promoter who is masterminding his career is Hall of Famer Frank Warren, a man who knows how to nurture a spectacular talent through to world title greatness.
Frank Warren on Itauma
Queensberry Promotions boss Warren took the opportunity as he wished Itauma a happy birthday, to speak about just how highly he rates the Chatham, Kent prodigy.
He said: “This young man is a special, special talent. He is one of the best I’ve ever worked with at his age”.
Itauma not only has the physical tools to be a great – devastating speed and power in both hands – he also has the mental agility. He appears to possess a ring IQ and calm that is way beyond his tender years. Warren compared him to some of the great fighters he has mentored in the past.
“At his age he’s done better than anybody I can think of – I mean anyone. And Nas [Prince Naseem Hamed] done brilliantly at that age, Joe Calzaghe, lots of them. But he’s [Itauma] an amazing talent, an amazing talent.”
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Warren of course is making sure everybody keeps their feet on the ground, there are many pitfalls which can impact a young fighter. Heavyweight boxing is the most dangerous of games – any fight can bring a knockout defeat as well as a knockout victory.
Next up for Itauma is the durable American Jermaine Franklin – a man who has taken both Anthony Joshua and the aforementioned Whyte the distance. They meet in Manchester on January 24.
Warren cautioned: “He’s got a tough fight next fight out. It’s not an easy job that 24th January up in Manchester.”
He was born Enriko Moses Itauma in Slovakia on December 28, 2004.
Itauma will face American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester on January 24, 2026. The bout will stream live on DAZN.
