Moses Itauma has been relatively untested in the professional ring despite earning a shot at the heavyweight world title, but as an amateur, there is one bout that sticks out to the 21-year-old as his ‘toughest’ encounter.
Itauma has won by knockout in 12 of his 14 professional contests to date and – despite no experience fighting beyond the sixth round – the Kent-based phenomenon is set to clash with Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight world title at the end of the month.
Itauma’s recent success is nothing new to him, though, having also been undefeated as an amateur; stringing together 24 wins and 11 of those coming via knockout, whilst capturing gold medals at School, Junior, Youth European and Youth World level.
Reflecting on his days as an amateur, Itauma admitted that a 2019 meeting with British cruiserweight Aloys Youmbi was his toughest fight, in an interview with talkSPORT.
“My most challenging fight in my amateur career would definitely have been against Aloys [Youmbi] Junior, who is also boxing on the same night, he also trains at the Ben Davison stable.
“I remember, it was the junior semi-finals and I didn’t know who he was, he knew who I was. I just thought that I would go in there and try to stop him and I left the ring with a concussion.
“He was definitely my toughest fight, as an amateur.”
Youmbi, known as Aloys Jr or simply ‘The Animal’, lost his first fight as a pro back in 2021, but he has since gone on to win 11 consecutive scraps and register nine stoppages, emerging as one of the biggest punchers in the domestic cruiserweight scene and rising to #8 in the WBA world rankings.
On the Itauma-Hrgovic undercard, on August 29, Youmbi accepts his first test at world level, as he faces off with Cuba’s Mike Perez (WBA #10), who challenged for the WBC world title in 2017, in a fascinating affair.
