Moses Itauma, a 20-year-old heavyweight boxer, is getting ready for the biggest fight of his career against Dillian Whyte. This match will show if Itauma can live up to the hype as a future champion.
Oleksandr Usyk, the current heavyweight king at 38 years old, hand-picked Itauma as his protege. Usyk's dominance in the division means he'll soon need to make way for new talent, and Itauma might be the one to take his place.
Frank Warren, Itauma's promoter, is planning a fast track to the top for the young fighter. If Itauma beats Whyte, Warren wants to set up fights with Otto Wallin, Filip Hrgovic, or Zhilei Zhang within the next year. The end goal? A world title shot.
Itauma's trainer, Ben Davison, thinks his fighter has what it takes to challenge even the best. He told reporters:
"You get the chance to face the best of a generation, if not the best ever. I think it's a win-win. As much as Moses hasn't shared the ring with somebody like Usyk, to be truly honest, I don't think Usyk has shared the ring with somebody like Moses. He is a thinking fighter. He's able to process, to come back and talk to you in the corner. We're solely focused on [Whyte], but there is not a fight [we would avoid]."
Davison's comments show confidence in Itauma's skills, especially his ability to think and adjust during a fight. This mental game could be key against top opponents.
Itauma's youth and unknown style might give him an edge. He hasn't put much of his skills on tape yet, which could surprise future opponents. But he's not ready for Usyk's level just yet.
For now, Itauma needs to focus on beating Whyte. A win there, followed by a couple more strong performances, will put him in the mix for those top-level fights. The heavyweight division is watching closely to see if this young boxer can climb the ranks and become the next big thing.
