Moses Itauma has made statement after statement in the heavyweight division, recently knocking out Demsey McKean in one round.
Moses Itauma continued his undefeated run in his latest fight, in which he did in one round what took Filip Hrgovic 12, as he dropped and stopped Demsey McKean in the opening round at just 19 years of age.
Itauma has been described as the next Mike Tyson, with some suggesting he may even beat Tyson’s record for becoming the youngest heavyweight world champion ever, though he has just a couple months left to do it.
Moses Itauma on Mike Tyson comparisons and the ‘monster’ fighter he’s inspired by
In an interview with Ready To Fight, Adam Smith asked Itauma: “Do you like the comparisons to a young Mike Tyson?”
Itauma responded: “Personally, no. Only because I’m on my own journey and I want to make my own career.”
The man from Kent, England, then pointed to another fighter often compared to Tyson, a man who inspires Itauma:
“‘The President’. There’s a Nigerian boxer called Ike Ibeabuchi. All his career is based off being the next Mike Tyson or an African Mike Tyson. People don’t actually appreciate what he actually was. He was a monster.”
Itauma, who KO’d Mariusz Wach, concluded: “I want to be an original, I don’t want to be a copy.”
Moses Itauma admits he may not beat Mike Tyson’s record
At the age of 20 years old, Itauma, who gave Lawrence Okolie his toughest spar, now has just until the end of May to win a world title if he is to beat Tyson’s record.
Tyson, who scored an 8-second KO, became the youngest heavyweight champion after his win over Trevor Berbick.
With no full title shot likely to make itself available, Itauma’s only real method to beat this record would be a fight with Kubrat Pulev, who holds the WBA Regular belt, though this is also unlikely for two reasons.
Firstly, Warren said Itauma is already hoping to fight on the Josh Taylor, who Harlem Eubank wants next, vs Ekow Essuman card, and so likely won’t face someone as noteworthy as Pulev.
But more importantly, Pulev reportedly priced himself out of a fight with Fabio Wardley, meaning a battle with Itauma is just as unlikely given the sum Pulev might ask for.
Speaking on the possibility he doesn’t achieve the record, Itauma said: “I don’t wanna be one of those people that’s like, I said something I’m not gonna do, of course, but there’s a lot of things that I can’t control. There’s a lot of things that my punching can’t solve.”