Moses Itauma has only just turned 20 but he is already one of the more terrifying prospects in the heavyweight division.
Demsey McKean was a world-level contender who had only lost once before meeting Itauma, and that defeat came against Filip Hrgovic who was the mandatory challenger for the IBF title at the time.
McKean lasted into the 12th round with Hrgovic but could not make it through the first with Itauma.
The young Briton blazed through McKean, his feints and speed of hand too much for the Australian as he finished McKean with a devastating arching left cross before they had even reached the two-minute mark in their fight on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch.
Itauma is eager to maintain his rapid progress and would welcome a world title fight with IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.
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Daniel Dubois demands a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk following the Ukrainian’s win over Tyson Fury
“If the fight was to be presented to me I would take it, 100 per cent,” Itauma told Sky Sports.
He does, though, believe that, as he works his way up the rankings, he will probably have to wait 12 months or more to get a world title shot, noting: “As of right now you need to be in position to fight for the belts.”
“I did actually ask Ben [Davison, his trainer] about this,” he revealed. “If the opportunity did present itself and we were to fight for a world title in the next year and a half, two years, would you take it? He was like, ‘yeah of course’. I needed to know that we’re all on the same page here.”
Itauma also thinks he is unlikely to cross paths with Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury, both of whom are more than 16 years his senior.
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Usyk used his scintillating boxing skills to beat Fury on the judges’ scorecards and retain his heavyweight world titles
“I don’t think the fight would make sense for anyone really but you never know. The world might change in a year from now and maybe I will be in a position for them fights. But I wouldn’t really know,” he said.
“Tyson, Usyk and Joshua have had three completely different paths and all achieved the same thing, heavyweight champion of the world. You have to take your hat off to all of them and just admire and then take everything from each one of them fighters and then put it into one. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.
“A couple of years ago I wouldn’t have been able to have this position if it wasn’t for them guys that paved the way. Anthony Joshua, he was the first guy to break out the British boxing scene again. I’ve just got to be grateful.
“I kind of admire all the top guys. But I’m here to set my own path as well.”
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Dubois says he wants to fight all the top guys as he targets an undisputed fight after his bout against Joseph Parker
Even though he only celebrated his 20th birthday on December 28, Itauma has long been ahead of his time.
When he was still a schoolboy he was sparring world champions, like Lawrence Okolie and Anthony Joshua, raising eyebrows when he arrived at elite gyms still in school uniform only to show off boxing skills far beyond his years.
After sitting a GCSE he went straight in to spar Joe Joyce, the Olympic silver medallist who would go on to win the WBO interim heavyweight title.
“They all looked at each other like what is this kid doing in the ring with him. But then when the bell went it was a completely different story,” Itauma remembered.
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Former professional boxer Kieran Farrell tells his story after being forced into early retirement to helping coach Dubois for his knockout win against Anthony Joshua
Although he added: “For me, I guess you can take a little bit from the sparring, but when you get the crowd involved, the 10-ounce gloves, no headguard, it’s a completely different story. I take a little bit away from it but not a lot.”
His trainer Ben Davison, who has worked with Fury previously and currently with Joshua, is convinced Itauma has all the tools to leave a legacy in the sport.
“There’s always buts and maybes, there are lots of things that need to be done along the way,” Davison told Sky Sports.
“Getting there is hard, staying there is even harder. Keeping his mind on track, keeping himself focused and keeping the main thing the main thing is very important as well.
“But if he does the right things I think there’s a potential historical career on the rise.”
