Oleksandr Usyk recently ruled out a fight with Moses Itauma, saying he does not want to ‘break’ the young heavyweight.
It’s a bold statement even from a man of Usyk’s calibre given the fact that many predict Itauma will prove himself as an unstoppable force in the heavyweight division.
Though he is yet to face anyone near the level of the great Ukrainian, Itauma – 13-0 with 11 KOs – has answered every question asked of him, and his confidence is high enough to call for a fight against the three-time undisputed champ.
Responding to the comment via IFL TV, Itauma said he would expect nothing less from a rival fighter, though said he does not believe the words to be true.
“Listen, everybody’s got to say something to the media. He ain’t gonna come on and say [anything else]. Let me ask you a question: do you think Usyk would be able to knock Dillian Whyte out in a minute?”
“He’s saying I’m a young guy, he’ll break me. I’ve got the utmost respect for Usyk [but] I know it’s not the truth. He’s not going to go on to the media and portray himself in a negative way, so I don’t take offence. If I get the opportunity, I get the opportunity. If I don’t, I don’t … I know his team don’t think what he said.”
Though the 21-year-old may not get the opportunity to force a changing of the guard in the heavyweight ranks against Usyk, he could still target generational big hitters in Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, who both did the same when they were on the rise against a veteran Wladimir Klitschko.
However, the pair of former champions could well conclude that the risk outweighs the reward, and Itauma may be destined to carve his own path with other rivals on the rise. Next up, he faces the durable Jermaine Franklin on March 28 in Manchester.
