Big, Strong and Fearless, Moses Itauma is Real

Moses Itauma announced himself as the future of the heavyweight division with a stunning destruction of former world title challenger Dillian Whyte.

The 20-year-old sensation flattened his British rival in just 119 seconds, moving his ledger to 13-0 with 11 knockouts.

From the opening bell, Itauma was too big, too strong, and too fearless.

Whyte, who boiled down to his lowest fighting weight in a decade, paid dearly for the gamble as Itauma hurt him almost immediately and never let up until the finish.

The statement win has now thrown Itauma’s name into the most significant conversations at heavyweight. Talk of a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk is no longer far-fetched.

With the Ukrainian warrior aging and having endured consecutive wars with Tyson Fury, many already believe Itauma has a genuine chance of pulling off the upset.

Adding fuel to the fire, Turki Alalshikh declared after the fight that he wants Usyk vs Itauma next. If that becomes reality, Usyk would need to vacate the WBO crown for Joseph Parker, leaving Itauma to potentially fight for the WBA and IBF straps depending on how the WBC handles Agit Kabayel’s long-awaited mandatory shot.

The Future of the Heavyweight Division

However you slice it, Itauma’s next fight should be for a world title and could come days before he turns 21 in December. Sending less than two minutes in the ring opens up a swift return for Itauma, who would jump at the chance to battle Usyk at the usual pre-Christmas December showpiece in Saudi Arabia.

A lot depends on whether Frank Warren is willing to unleash the beast that early or whether the wily old promoter sees Parker as the better opportunity and then rolls the dice on whether Usyk retires later than 2026.

With Riyadh now firmly at the center of boxing’s heavyweight scene, Itauma has become the most talked-about young force in the division, and a world title shot is closer than anyone imagined at this tender stage of his career.

Sadly for Whyte, he didn’t know what was coming, and walking away seems the best decision to make for the ‘Body Snatcher.’

At a time when one man was so far above everyone else in terms of skill, Itauma is a welcome addition to the world-class ranks and brings excitement with every punch.

About the Author

Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.