“Usyk would blow him away. He would kill him. Itauma has talent, no question. But he’s nowhere near ready against Usyk.”
If Saudi boxing patron Turki Al-Sheikh has his way, heavyweight shooting star Moses Itauma will be the next challenger for four-time world champion Oleksandr Usyk. While greats such as Tyson Fury already see the 20-year-old as capable of “demolishing” the Ukrainian, a clear warning has come from an English veteran: Derek Chisora.
The 41-year-old Londoner knows what he’s talking about. Chisora has been in the ring with almost all the top heavyweights in his long career – from Vitali Klitschko to David Haye and Joseph Parker. Usyk also crossed gloves with Chisora in 2020 and won unanimously on points after a tough fight. “Usyk would blow him away,” “Del Boy” told The Ring, referring to Itauma. “He would kill him.”
The up-and-coming Brit Itauma has made a name for himself in a very short space of time. At just 20 years of age, he is unbeaten (13-0, 11 knockouts) and is considered the hottest stock in the heavyweight division. He recently defeated Dillian Whyte spectacularly in the first round in Riyadh – a victory that really fueled the discussions about a duel with Usyk. But Chisora urges caution. Usyk, now 38, has shown no signs of weakness despite his age and recently defeated Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois in historic unification fights. “Itauma has talent, no question,” said Chisora. “But he’s nowhere near ready against Usyk.”
Whether the generational duel will actually take place soon depends on the plans of the Saudi organizers and Usyk’s mandatories. One thing is clear: Itauma is polarizing – and the heavyweight scene is already talking about him as if he were a future champion.
Text by Robin Josten