Moses Itauma has the heavyweight boxing world at his feet at the tender age of 20 years old, and the plaudits just keep on coming.
The British phenom, who hails from Chatham in Kent, produced another fistic masterclass last weekend in Glasgow when he obliterated game American Mike Balogun inside four minutes.
That two-round demolition job showcased ‘Enriko’ punching with devastating power in both hands, it was quite simply a breathtaking demonstrating of his tantalising potential.
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Itauma’s Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren is obviously very very excited about his budding superstar, and explained just why he is already so good. Not just incredible speed and power, but also a boxing maturity way beyond his years.
Warren also raved about the moment Itauma applied the coup de grace against Balogun – a devastating right hook delivered off the back foot.
Warren on astonishing Itauma KO
He told BoxNation: “He’s not one of those guys that when, when he gets in trouble, he rushes in and he loses his space, falling in on you. He keeps his space so he can deflect shots. He steps back and lets them go and moves them. And what impressed me with the last knockdown was he did it going backwards. Very few fighters can do that, you know, have that power to be able to do that.
“I mean, the guy didn’t come to lie down – he got up. He got up and wanted to carry on – three times he was on the floor, and he got caught with really, really good punches. He’s stayed to his task, Moses, and he’s very measured and calculated, cool, and… very mature. Very, very, very, very mature fighter, mentally.
Itauma is now set to come out again on the undercard of that Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois 2 unification blockbuster at Wembley on July 19. Names like Sweden’s Otto Wallin and durable American Jermaine Franklin have been mooted as possible next opponents.
Looking further ahead though, Itauma is fast moving into the upper echelons of the heavyweight division, ever closer to a potential world title shot some time soon.
This week he got some great news on that front with the WBO (World Boxing Organization) moving him up to #1 in their latest rankings. Only interim champion and mandatory contender Joseph Parker and champion Usyk sit above him.
Moses moving up in rankings
Warren said: “They put him in the number one spot, so, you know everybody is watching him. All the organisations are watching because they know, they like what they see. Everybody likes what they see. He can fight. He can fight, and his feet are firmly on the ground. He’s not some nutjob, and when you talk, you talk sensibly and intelligently, and he talks as intelligently as he fights intelligently.”
Itauma is a contrast in and out of the ring, according to Warren, and that spells very bad news for his opponents when the first bell sounds.
“He’s a lovely guy. He’s a lovely guy, got a nice family, you know – he’s a proper, proper bloke. But once he gets in that ring, I’ll tell you what, phew, he’s a monster.”
Warren has spent decades building the careers of prospects like Itauma, he is a master of the craft. So far things are going according to plan this time round, and the future is bright.
“I’m just pleased with what he’s done, mate. I’m pleased with what he’s done and I’m delighted the way it’s going. You know, we’ve invested in him, he’s invested in us, and everything’s going really well between us as the team works.”
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