BRITAIN’S blue-chip heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma returns to action on Saturday night, where he travels north of the border to face Mike Balogun in Scotland for a first appearance of 2025.
Itauma, 11-0 (9 KOs), turned professional with a heap of expectation on his shoulders after an unbeaten amateur career, touted to become the United Kingdom’s successor to a golden heavyweight era that saw the success of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
So far, 20-year-old Itauma has looked every inch the fighter that sparring stories and whispers behind the scenes suggest him to be, stringing together an ongoing run of seven stoppage wins – all of which came inside two rounds.
Last year, Itauma began to up the level of his opposition, but the Kent-based southpaw was still leagues above the likes of former world title challenger Mariusz Wach and undefeated Australian Demsey McKean, who were both dispatched with ease.
As a result, Itauma is now positioned as the world #2 with the WBO and is well poised for a shot at heavyweight gold as fans continue to debate whether promoter Frank Warren should hit the brakes or let go of the reins over the coming months.
However, before his next move can be truly discussed, Itauma has been tasked with former NFL player Mike Balogun, 21-1 (16 KOs), as the Briton heads to Glasgow to end the longest run of inactivity in his pro career thus far and fights for the first time in over five months.
Fans in the United Kingdom have criticised the match-up, who hoped that the youngster would be tested against a more recognisable heavyweight contender upon his ring return. However, Warren does seem to be targeting southpaw opponents for his man, and Balogun may well have been the best of the available bunch.
Balogun marks a third southpaw in Itauma’s last five contests and could be ambitious preparation for an eventual meeting with Oleksandr Usyk if Warren dares to throw Itauma into the deepest of deep ends during 2026. Zhilei Zhang is another notable lefty in the division with whom Itauma could collide.
First, although it is easy to get carried away with future plans for Britain’s hottest prospect, Itauma must overcome Balogun tomorrow night and must do it in style. Anything less than an early knockout win is sure to be considered a disappointment by most.
MOSES ITAUMA VS. MIKE BALOGUN FIGHT PREDICTION
Boxing News predicts that Moses Itauma will meet expectations and deliver a statement knockout that will get the world talking about his potential once again.
Itauma could use this outing to bank some rounds, but instead, we believe he gets the job done within three and returns quickly to fight this summer, possibly on the Usyk-Dubois II undercard in July.
