Moses Itauma is seen by most boxing experts as the future of the heavyweight division – quite simply he is that good.
The sensationally talented 20-year-old from Chatham, Kent has purists and casuals alike drooling at his remarkable ring IQ and incredibly destructive punching power.
Itauma has raced to an 11-0 pro record, with 9 of those wins coming inside the first two rounds. It’s highlight-reel stuff all of the way.
READ MORE: Moses Itauma makes big Usyk claim, and admits what he still needs most
The most recent outing for the man they call ‘Enriko’ was perhaps the most chilling – a quite incredible one-round demolition job on the tough and durable Aussie Demsey McKean last December.
Itauma believes he is the best heavyweight out there in many areas, but admits the one thing he still needs in his arsenal, is rounds. Those are unlikely to come in his next fight – that May 24 showdown with former NFL star Mike Balogun in Glasgow (live on DAZN).
The big problem for Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren and his team is finding fighters who are good enough to test their young prodigy, short of elite superstars like heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
So we looked at the heavyweight division right now, to pick out three fights we’d like to see for Moses. Stepping stone affairs against quality opponents who can potentially take him deeper into a fight. He would, of course, still start as favourite to beat any of them.
Moses Itauma next fights
Here are three men who might frustrate and in some cases potentially test Itauma:
Kubrat Pulev (32-3)
The tough and durable Bulgarian is still out there at the age of 44, some four years on from his big world title challenge against Anthony Joshua in London. Pulev was blasted out in nine rounds by an on-song AJ that night, but he has only been stopped twice with Wladimir Klitschko the other to do a job on him back in 2014. Those losses aside, Pulev has been a test for absolutely everybody he has been in with, and currently holds the WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight title after a decision defeat of Mahmoud Charr last December.
Jermaine Franklin (23-2)
The 31-year-old American showed exactly what he can do at the top level in back-to-back fights with huge British names Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua back in 2022 and 2023. First he took Dillian right to the brink before losing a close majority decision. Then, a few short months later, he also took Joshua the distance on a frustrating night for the two-time world heavyweight champion. Has since returned with a couple of regulation wins, but biding his time for the next big chance since May 2024. Would be an excellent yardstick for the hugely promising Itauma.
Jared Anderson (18-1)
Okay so this is the wild card, somebody who may not just take Itauma past the first couple of rounds but may actually pose a real threat too. A year ago an Itauma vs Anderson showdown would have pitted the two most exciting heavies in the world against each other. But then, last August, the wheels came off for ‘The Real Big Baby’ when he suffered a shocking fifth-round KO against Martin Bakole on a huge Riyadh Season show in Los Angeles. That was a massive jolt for the freakishly gifted Anderson, who returned in February with a decision win over Marios Kollias. This fight would hold significant risk for both men, but it also has the potential to be an absolute barnstomer. Sign us up.
Who are the current heavyweight champions?
Right now there is no chance of a world title shot in the next few months for Itauma. That is because the current world heavyweight champions Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are about to fight each other. They will meet at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday July 19 for all of the marbles.
READ MORE: Heavyweight boxing schedule – the big fights coming up
