Mike Tyson, though retired, left a legacy as a result of his ferocity and aggressive style, but there is one young Brit who boasts that same aggression and may even beat Tyson’s record.
44 of Mike Tyson‘s 50 wins came by way of knockout, meaning just six men heard the final bell, including Mitch Green, whose eye socket was broken by Tyson.
Tyson to this day holds the record for becoming the youngest heavyweight world champion of all time, but he may not hold it for long as a Brit billed as ‘the next Mike Tyson’ still has some time to capture the record.
Moses Itauma stops Klitschko’s world title challenger in two rounds
Last year, with a record of 9-0, Moses Itauma took on the durable Mariusz Wach. Wach, 38-10, was once a challenger for Wladimir Klitschko‘s world titles, and took the Ukrainian the 12-round distance before losing a unanimous decision.
Though his record indicates his career was on a downward trajectory at the time of their meeting, it’s important to note that out of his ten losses, which includes losses to Dillian Whyte, Frazer Clarke, Martin Bakole, Alexander Povetkin, Jarrell Miller, and more, only five have come by stoppage.
Of those five, just one man has stopped him before the halfway point in their fight, with Wach’s other stoppages coming in rounds 6, 8, 9, and 12.
That man is Itauma, who stopped Wach in just the second round, marking Wach’s most devastating loss to date.
Itauma, who welcomes a fight with Daniel Dubois already, was billed as the man to beat Mike Tyson’s record of being a champ aged 20 years, 4 months, 22 days. Itauma is now 20 years old 2 months 21 days, meaning he has just two months to win a world title.
There were talks amongst fans of Itauma facing Kubrat Pulev next for the WBA Regular title, but it is unclear whether this will take place.
Frank Warren told The Ring Itauma will be out next on the undercard of Josh Taylor, who Harlem Eubank wants next, vs Ekow Essuman, though this will clearly be his last chance to beat Tyson’s record.
Moses Itauma did in one round what took Filip Hrgovic twelve
After making a statement against Wach, Itauma, who has never tasted defeat as an amateur or a pro, fought on the undercard of Tyson Fury‘s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
Itauma was matched with Australian giant Demsey McKean. McKean, who stands at 6’6″, had just one loss and 22 wins. His one loss came by twelfth-round stoppage in 2023 to Filip Hrgovic.
Seeking to make a statement, Itauma dropped McKean in the very first round and, sensing the opportunity to finish his opponent was imminent, stopped McKean later that round with a devastating overhand left.
Itauma will be back in May, but it is unlikely he will beat Tyson’s record unless he faces Pulev next.