MOSES Itauma is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in boxing, currently boasting a perfect 11-0 professional record with nine stoppages under his belt. One of those stoppages came against Dan Garber in March 2024 in what was Itauma’s eighth fight since turning pro.
Garber believes Moses Itauma has the tools to become the next Lennox Lewis after sharing his experience of fighting with the 20-year-old star.
“He’s unreal,” said Garber. “I took that [fight] on three days’ notice and BT Sport made me six different offers before I finally accepted. I’ve never seen that kind of money before. The money that they offered was just stupid, so I wasn’t going to say no to it.”
It took Itauma two minutes and 22 seconds of the first round to secure victory in that fight. That proved to be the last outing before the youngster began to challenge for titles.
“I boxed him, I went in, had a little go,” said Garber. “Don’t get me wrong it was a terrible stoppage, there wasn’t a mark on my face. But in hindsight, he would have leathered me. There’s no two ways about it. I got saved for a better day to be honest with you.
“I came out of there, I robbed a bank that night. I went in, I came out with not a scratch on me. Got paid really, really well for it so it was a winner winner all the way for me.
“I mean it only makes my reputation better because they know that I’ll jump in with these guys. A lot of other guys won’t, they just want to protect their record and that’s the difference.”
Garber is an accomplished heavyweight in his own right and he recently improved to 9-4 with a victory over Marcin Prostko in Bradford.
The 39-year-old is setting his sights on a big fight in Canada, which would add to his growing CV, which already includes the likes of Thomas Carty, Viddal Riley, and, of course, Itauma.
When asked about Itauma’s future, Garber believes his former opponent can go all the way.
“I think he beats them all,” he said. “Before I boxed him, I said apart from Joshua and Fury at that time, he was the best heavyweight in the country.
“I’d heard all the stories about him even from amateurs. I’ve seen all the stories about him, how good he was, etcetera.
“I’ve been face to face with guys like Tom Carty and Viddal Riley and you have a bit of back and forth. With that kid it was like there were nothing there. No emotion. It was like looking at a blank canvas. I remember coming back to my uncle after seeing him, I said he’s not right in head this kid.
“I was just thinking to myself ‘what am I doing’ and I got in ring and the speed of the guy was just unreal.
“He hit me through my gloves, and I could feel the power. I’m confident in my chin, very, very confident. I think I’ve only been dropped once in professional boxing in 20 years by Tom Carty. But the guy [Itauma] hit me, and it shook me through my body.
“When he caught me flush, I stood up to it, but I think if he stays at it now, I think in 20 years’ time they’ll be talking about him like they talk about Lennox Lewis. That’s how good I think he’ll be, and I can say I boxed him.”
Itauma’s last fight saw him defend his WBO inter-continental heavyweight title with a first-round TKO win over Demsey McKean.
The Brit aspires to break Mike Tyson’s record of becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history. Itauma has until May 19 to fulfill that ambition.
