Should Moses Itauma pursue a fight with undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk now — or wait until the Ukrainian retires?
It was an unthinkable question at the start of 2025, when the unbeaten Itauma was just 11 fights into his career and coming off an eye-catching first-round win over former Filip Hrgovic opponent Demsey McKean.
Fast forward 11 months and Itauma is now 13-0 (11 KOs), the WBA’s number one contender, and in August he dispatched former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in less than three minutes. At just 20 years old, the Slovakian-born Brit has the world at his feet.
Some observers believe he’s already ready for someone of Usyk’s elite calibre, while others urge caution. Among them is all-time great Lennox Lewis, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, who shared his advice with Sky Sports.
“Way too soon. It’s better to wait. Wait until he retires. He’s not going to stay around too long. I’m talking Oleksandr Usyk, and then take your shot. There’s no use doing it right now.
“Right now you’re learning –– you’re learning everything and you have to wait until the right time. You can never be rushed. If you rush you’re going to do a bad result for your career. So it’s better to take your time and take it when it’s there, when it’s ready, when you’re ready.”
Usyk, 38, is expected to return in 2026, with Itauma’s gym-mate Fabio Wardley a potential opponent after his recent victory over Joseph Parker in their titanic tussle earlier this month.
