Moses Itauma has the potential to have a 'historic career' | “I will fight Daniel Dubois for the world title 100%” | Boxing news

Moses Itauma is only 20 years old, but he is already one of the most feared prospects in the heavyweight division.

Dempsey McCain was a world-class contender and had only lost once before facing Itauma, and that defeat came to Filip Hrjovic who was the mandatory challenger for the IBF title at the time.

McCain continued into the twelfth round with Hrjovic but was unable to make it past the first round with Itauma.

The young Briton charged through McCain, his feint and hand speed too much for the Australian, finishing off McCain with a devastating curling left cross before they had even reached the two-minute mark in their fight on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson. Rage rematch.

Itauma will look to maintain his rapid progress and will welcome a world title fight with IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.

“If I was offered the fight, I would accept it 100%,” Itauma said. Sky Sports.

However, he believes that as he works his way up the world rankings, he will likely have to wait 12 months or more for a world title shot, noting: “As of now, you should be in a position to fight for the world title.” Belts.”

“I asked Ben (Davison, his coach) about it,” he revealed. “If the opportunity came up and we were going to fight for a world title in the next year and a half or two, would you take it? He was like, ‘Yes, of course.’ I needed to know that we were all on the same page here.”

Itauma also believes he is unlikely to meet Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury, both of whom are more than 16 years his senior.

“I don't think fighting would really make sense to anyone, but you never know. The world might change in a year from now and maybe I'll be in a position to fight them. But I don't really know.” He said.

“Tyson, Usyk and Joshua had three very different paths and they all achieved the same thing, world heavyweight champion. You have to tip your hat to all of them and admire them and then take everything from each one of them as fighters and then put it into one, and that's exactly what I'm trying to do.” .

“A few years ago I wouldn't have been able to get this position if it wasn't for those guys who paved the way. Anthony Joshua, he was the first man to grace the British boxing scene again. I just have to be grateful.

“I kind of admire all the big players. But I'm here to chart my own path, too.”

Although he only celebrated his 20th birthday on December 28, Itauma has long been ahead of his time.

When he was still a schoolboy, he sparred with world champions, such as Lawrence Okolie and Anthony Joshua, raising eyebrows when he arrived at elite gyms still wearing his school uniform just to show boxing skills far beyond his years.

After taking his GCSEs, he went straight to spar with Joe Joyce, the Olympic silver medalist who would go on to win the interim WBO heavyweight title.

“They all looked at each other like what this kid is doing to him in the ring,” Itauma recalled. “But when the bell rang it was a completely different story.”

Although he added: “For me, I think you can take a little bit of sparring, but when you're involved with the crowd, 10-ounce gloves, no head guard, it's a completely different story. I stray a little bit from that but not by much.”

His coach Ben Davison, who has worked with Fury previously and currently with Joshua, is convinced Itauma has all the tools needed to leave a legacy in the sport.

“There are always some things but maybe, there are a lot of things to do along the way,” Davison said. Sky Sports.

“Getting there is tough, staying there is tougher. Keeping his mind on track, keeping his focus and keeping the main thing going is the main thing as well.

“But if he does the right things, I think there is a potentially historic rally on the rise.”