Moses Itauma put the heavyweight division on notice on Saturday night as he easily dispatched Dillian Whyte in Saudi Arabia.
Whyte was knocked out by Itauma in just under two minutes in their heavyweight main event, as the 20-year-old continues to live up to the Mike Tyson comparisons.
Although Whyte was rumored to have had an injury in the bout, Itauma’s performance impressed many in the boxing community.
Turki Alalshikh wants Oleksandr Usyk vs Itauma next, but one heavyweight has thrown his name in the hat to face the 13-0 star.
Lawrence Okolie explains why he wants to face Moses Itauma as soon as possible
In attendance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was 21-1 heavyweight contender Lawrence Okolie. The British fighter last competed on the undercard of Usyk vs Daniel Dubois, defeating Kevin Lerena by unanimous decision.
Currently not scheduled to fight, Okolie is looking for a heavyweight dance partner. Despite being present for Itauma’s incredible knockout, ‘The Sauce’ was not deterred by the performance, and is open to fighting the youngster.
Okolie, 32, spoke to Boxing News at the event, where he confirmed he would be interested in fighting Itauma. However, the former cruiserweight world champion wants to face Itauma before he gets too experienced.
“100% [I’d fight Moses]. If there was a time, I think it’s sooner rather than later to fight someone like Moses… What you don’t want is to fight someone who’s gifted and experienced. By the time he’s 25, he’s going to be unbelievable.
If there’s a time to sneak in and ‘old-man him’, it’s now.”
Okolie went on to say that experience would be one of ‘the main things’ that would help him earn victory over Itauma.
- READ MORE: Moses Itauma plays down dream fight return after brutal Dillian Whyte knockout… ‘I don’t deserve it’
Lawrence Okolie sparred a 15-year-old Moses Itauma
Should Okolie and Itauma be paired together in a professional fight in the future, it would not be the first time they shared a ring.
In an earlier interview with Boxing News, Okolie revealed that he sparred a 15-year-old Itauma in the past.
Okolie said that he sparred Itauma in preparation for a cruiserweight title fight, but was apprehensive prior to the session due to the youngster’s age. “Leave him at home. I’m not here to spar 15 year olds.”
Despite disregarding a teenage Itauma, the 15-year-old stepped into the ring to spar Okolie, in what the former cruiserweight thought would be a rest round.
Speaking on how the spar went, Okolie said, “I was shocked… The first time we sparred I was like, ‘Who is this guy?'”
After sharing the ring with Itauma, Okolie was in disbelief that the fighter was only 15 years of age at the time, praising the skills of the teenager.