Moses Itauma has drawn comparisons to Mike Tyson in the early days of his professional career, but Teddy Atlas, the former trainer of the once ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’, has now admitted that Itauma ‘can do more things’ than the two-time heavyweight world champion.
Itauma has knocked out 12 of his 14 professional opponents to date and has not yet fought beyond the sixth round. At the end of the month, the 21-year-old has the chance to take Floyd Patterson’s place and become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion of all time, as he challenges Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF crown.
Tyson holds the record as boxing’s youngest heavyweight ruler, having dethroned Trevor Berbick to get his hands on the WBC strap as a 20-year-old back in 1986 and beginning one of the most iconic reigns in heavyweight history.
Despite the success of Tyson, Atlas, who trained ‘Iron Mike’ alongside the legendary Cus D’Amato, told Canada Casino that Itauma is ‘more dimensional’ than the iconic knockout artist.
“Where Itauma is different from Tyson is that he is more dimensional. He can do more things. He can box a little bit, he can counterpunch, I have seen him set traps, he can go get you, he can go in the trenches, he can go in close, go to the body, go to the head and put punches together.
“Tyson was more of a one-direction seek-and-destroy machine, but a very good one.
“Tyson created opportunities for his speed and power by being aggressive and smart, moving his head and making you miss and pay. But you pretty much always knew what you were going to get.”
Yet, whilst noting the differences between the two heavyweight stars, Atlas went on to recognise that there are similarities between Tyson and Itauma.
“The greatest similarity is speed and power. Itauma is one of the first heavyweights since Tyson where I can say he shows you that combination of pure speed and pure power that Tyson showed.
“No other heavyweights really showed that combination with both hands the way Tyson did. Tyson became legendary because of that combination of speed, power and ferociousness. He scared people.
“Itauma is starting to scare people a little bit too, maybe not just with the way he attacks, but with his talent.”
Itauma-Hrgovic takes place on Saturday, August 29, as Itauma headlines in the British capital for the first time in his career.
