Despite interest from fans and previous backing from boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, Moses Itauma will almost certainly not have the chance to face Oleksandr Usyk before the Ukrainian retires.
Usyk recently announced that he has vacated all three of his world titles and plans to have just one more fight before hanging up the gloves on a sure-fire Hall of Fame career.
It means that there will be no opportunity for Itauma – very much considered the future of the division – to force a changing of the guard inside the ropes. The fight never did look likely, with Usyk saying that he would ‘break’ Itauma, despite his willingness.
Speaking to IFL TV, Itauma reacted to the news.
“To be fair, he’s earned his stripes. He was [undisputed] cruiserweight and heavyweight champion. At the same time, it made it difficult for all of us. But, now that they’re all separated, we can start collecting some.
On the reports that the Ukrainian’s final fight will come against Deontay Wilder, the young Brit was less forgiving but says he understands the motivation.
“Who’d want to watch that? Fair enough, he’s achieved more than I have, so I can’t say nothing … He wants the paper. You’ve got to remember, when Usyk was a cruiserweight and in his early heavyfights fights, he wasn’t making as much money as he in these last couple of years. I don’t blame him. He’s from a country where boxing isn’t as publicised as the UK or US, and I don’t blame him for making the most out of what he’s got.”
Finally, asked if he was disappointed that they will never share the ring, Itauma said:
“He’s not really my generation, so I’m not too bothered. Having fought [some] people in the generation before me, that’s a blessing.”
What Usyk’s decision does do is move Itauma one step closer to becoming a heavyweight champion at 21. Next month, he faces world-level contender Filip Hrgovic, with a win cementing his status as WBO mandatory challenger for Daniel Dubois as well as keeping an opportunity to fight Frank Sanchez for the vacant IBF title alive.
