Oleksandr Usyk might want to steer clear of Moses Itauma. That's the advice from Hall of Fame fighter and boxing analyst Barry McGuigan, who sees the young heavyweight as a potential threat to Usyk's legacy.
Usyk, the unbeaten professional boxer, has carved out an impressive career. He's been the undisputed cruiserweight champion and is now a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. His list of victories includes two wins each over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois.
Usyk's recent fifth-round stoppage of Dubois has solidified his place in boxing history. But with just one fight left in his career, the question is: who will he face?
While Joseph Parker stands as the mandatory challenger, there's talk of potential trilogy fights with Fury, Joshua, or even Derek Chisora. However, boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has thrown another name into the mix: Moses Itauma.
McGuigan doesn't think that's a good idea. He said:
"I really wouldn't want to see Usyk fighting someone as quick and as young and full of vitality as Itauma is right now. If he wants to fight Tyson Fury again, fine. If he wants to fight Joshua again, fine, but don't hang around too long. Don't fight the young lions coming up."
It's easy to see why McGuigan's worried. At just 20 years old, Itauma is making waves in the heavyweight division. The southpaw has shown he's fast, powerful, and can end fights quickly. He's knocked out his last three opponents - Mariusz Wach, Demsey McKean, and Mike Balogun - all within the first two rounds.
Itauma's got potential, but he's not quite ready for the top prize yet. He'll need another year of development, starting with his upcoming fight against Dillian Whyte in August. A win there could put him on the fast track to a world title shot.
If Usyk decides to vacate his titles, things could get interesting. Itauma, currently ranked number one by the WBO, would likely face Joseph Parker for the vacant title.
For now, Usyk's got some thinking to do. Does he take on a young lion like Itauma, or stick with more familiar foes for his final bout? Whatever he decides, it's clear that the heavyweight division is alive with both established champions and rising stars.
