Moses Itauma vs Oleksandr Usyk is the heavyweight boxing fight EVERYBODY wants to see right now. Well almost everybody.
The incredible 20-year-old British phenom Itauma improved to 13-0 in the pro ranks by blasting out former world title challenger Dillian Whyte inside a round in Riyadh last month.
It was another sensational display of lethal finishing from the Chatham, Kent sensation – who has now claimed 11 of his victories inside the first two rounds. He has devastating speed, power and remarkable ring IQ for one so young.
Itauma is already ranked #1 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), and the only man standing between him and Usyk – mandatory contender Joseph Parker – appears close to agreeing an October showdown with Britain’s Fabio Wardley in London. So would that leave the way open for Usyk vs Itauma?
Turki Alalshikh on Itauma vs Usyk
The man whose opinion might matter most of all in the sport of boxing right now is Saudi power broker Turki Alalshikh. He heads up the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA), which has been bankrolling the big fights we have all enjoyed in the last two years.
In the immediate aftermath of Usyk defeating Daniel Dubois to become undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time in July, Alalshikh took to social media to say that Usyk vs Itauma is THE FIGHT that boxing must see. What Turki wants, Turki generally gets.
Usyk (24-0) is now 38 years old and has achieved just about everything in the sport. It appears likely he could be one or two fights from retirement. Itauma meanwhile has we hope at least a decade at the top in front of him. So is the timing right for the man they call ‘Enriko’?
One man who believes Itauma should sidestep any Usyk talk right now is Britain’s last undisputed world heavyweight champion – the great Lennox Lewis.
He told Sky Sports Boxing: “Way too soon. It’s better to wait. Just wait until he retires, then take your shot. He’s not gonna be around too long.”
The biggest headache for Itauma’s Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren in recent months has been getting Moses the quality rounds and experience he needs. Not easy when your star pupil keeps blasting out everybody inside a few highlight-reel minutes.
Despite that, Lewis believes that it is still too soon for Itauma to make the biggest step of all – to fight the man who is clearly the class of the heavyweight division right now.
“If you’re rushed, you are going to do a bad result for your career. It’s better to take your time.”
Boxing’s world heavyweight champions
Boxing’s world heavyweight title picture is normally as complicated as it gets in modern pro sports. Four accepted sanctioning bodies, plus of course that Ring magazine belt AND the mythical moniker of lineal champion.
Right now Usyk holds every one of those titles, for the second time in 14 months. That courtesy of that five-round demolition of Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July.
Usyk has been ordered by the WBO to defend his title against mandatory contender Parker, but was granted an extension to make that fight because of a back injury.
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