Lennox Lewis sees a new star rising in the heavyweight boxing division. The former undisputed champion has his eye on 20-year-old Moses Itauma, calling him "the next coming" in a recent interview.
The heavyweight landscape has changed dramatically in recent months. Tyson Fury retired after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2023. Anthony Joshua is recovering from elbow surgery following a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September. Meanwhile, 37-year-old Usyk holds the undisputed heavyweight crown, having conquered both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.
With other top heavyweights like Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder nearing 40, the division is ripe for new blood. That's where Itauma comes in.
The young boxer has impressed with a perfect 12-0 record so far. He's made quick work of his recent opponents, stopping both Mariusz Wach and Dempsey McKean in just two rounds each.
Lewis shared his thoughts on Itauma with talkSPORT Boxing:
"Itauma is the next coming."
Itauma's next test will be a big step up. He's set to face Dillian Whyte in August 2024. This fight will pit him against fringe world-level opposition for the first time.
Some fans worry that talk of Itauma facing champions like Usyk might be too much, too soon. At just 20 years old, he's still very young in boxing terms.
But with Lewis backing him, Itauma's future looks bright. The coming months will show if he can live up to the hype and become the next ruler of the heavyweight division.
