Moses Itauma obliterated Dillian Whyte in just one round to get one step closer to a world title shot.
Moses Itauma is now 13-0 with 11 knockout victories after yet another opponent fails to make it out of the opening round.
This time it was ‘The Bodysnatcher’ Dillian Whyte, who, despite paling in comparison to his former self, was billed as a durable opponent who could test the 20-year-old star.
No such test ever came, and Itauma was posed no real questions he had to answer, as he handled Whyte, who has only two unavenged losses to Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, with ease.
Now the big question on everyone’s minds is – Who next?
Whilst Itauma could face Filip Hrgovic or Martin Bakole next in a bid to get some rounds, he could also look elsewhere, with Turki Alalshikh even suggesting Oleksandr Usyk was the fight to make.
Itauma called out Joseph Parker, but there is another heavyweight whose reason for wanting to fight Itauma could land him the shot.
Lawrence Okolie was there from the start, and now wants to defeat Moses Itauma
Lawrence Okolie sang Itauma’s praises from very early in his career. At just fifteen years or so of age, Itauma would spar at Shane McGuigan’s gym, and did some rounds with Okolie, who was shocked at just how good the Brit is.
Back then, Okolie was a cruiserweight, and Itauma’s career hadn’t even begun, so there was nothing but respect between the two.
Ahead of the fight, though, Okolie revealed the man he helped begin in boxing could soon become his enemy, as Okolie wanted the Whyte fight before it was poached by the young prodigy.
Now 2-0 as a heavyweight following his recent win over Kevin Lerena, Okolie is eyeing a fight with Itauma next.
He told IFL TV when asked if he would face Itauma, “Absolutely. Yeah, next, why not? 100%. He’s one of the only boxers I can say I’m a fan of. […] If there’s a time to fight him it’s before he gets too much experience. […] You’re seeing someone so young doing so well… I just want to know [what it’d be like].”
Eddie Hearn admits Moses Itauma is more gifted than Anthony Joshua
In a different IFL interview with Eddie Hearn, the promoter, who has worked alongside AJ for his entire career, suggested Itauma is more ‘naturally gifted’ than the former two-time heavyweight champion.
Hearn was asked how Joshua and Itauma would compare after their first 13 fights, with AJ having beaten Kevin Johnson in two rounds in his 13th, whilst Itauma beat Whyte in one in his.
The British promoter said that owing to Joshua starting the sport later he believes Itauma has more natural ability, but that a fight between the pair will likely not come to fruition due to timing.
AJ and Itauma do also share a trainer at the moment in Ben Davison, so a match-up between them is highly unlikely.