MANY observers within the boxing world feel that one of the remaining things Moses Itauma needs in his career is hard rounds. Unfortunately, the southpaw is currently struggling to find opponents who can offer him much of anything.
Promoter Frank Warren will need to scrape and scratch around the top 10 to find the correct tests, while pushing his young contender towards the heavyweight gold, and learning all the tricks of the trade. Smashing Dillian Whyte away in a round last night only increases the intensity of Itauma’s charge.
“That was a statement, nobody’s ever done that to Dillian,” lauded Warren to Boxing News afterwards.
“You look at the fighters he’s been with over the years, you look at the condition he’d come in at, he was very confident. Even when you look at his losses, they’ve been to real good quality fighters, world championship fights.
“Look at the hard fights he’s given people, the fights that he’s won, and then you look at this 20-year-old who got in there and just done something special.”
One of Itauma’s many assets is his puncher’s patience. Taking his time, trying to work out an opponent’s moves, almost feels like an inconvenience as once Itauma lets his hands go, things are over in a flash.
“It’s a big surprise for me to see it,” agreed Warren, before offering some lofty praise, considering all of the fighters he has been involved with across his long career.
“I’m going to say something now, that, at his age, and the amount of fights he’s had, he’s the best talent I’ve been involved with.
“It is a big statement, and I’ve been involved with some of the great and best British fighters, and other world champions from around the world. He is something. At this stage of his career, he’s unbelievable.”
With talk of a Usyk fight gathering speed, Frank is savvy enough not to overcommit to anything too soon. Having his boxer linked to such esteemed names is helpful for promotional purposes, but he knows the game and knows the ability and experience of some of the potential next fighters being mentioned as Moses seeks longer tests.
“He’ll fight top 10-ranked fighters, that’s what he’ll do. Who it’s going to be next, we’ll work that out between us all, and we’ll announce that when we’re ready to do it. It’ll be a fight again this year, and he’ll be involved in big fights.”
Confirming that Filip Hrgovic, who defeated David Adeleye on points in Riyadh, was of interest, nobody is being ruled out, even the Ukrainian master himself: Oleksandr Usyk.
“I’m not going there with the opponents at the moment, but he’s onwards and upwards. Onwards and upwards, that’s what he’ll be doing,” said Warren.
