Promoter Francis Warren don drop strong talk say British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer Moses Itauma go become one of the all-time greats for sport. The 21-year-old boxer wey dey make waves for boxing world don get comparison with big names like Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Michael Phelps.
Warren wey dey guide Itauma career together with him papa Frank Warren tell DAZN News say the young heavyweight don gather attention wey British boxing no see since Anthony Joshua win Olympic gold for London 2012. “Everybody dey start know who this pikin be, and e go be one of those fighters wey go enter mainstream. Nobody don get this kind attention, maybe since Anthony Joshua, and na because e work him way win Olympics for London,” Warren talk.
Itauma wey born for Slovakia to Nigerian papa and Slovak mama, move go England for 2008 after him family experience racism for dia home country. E settle for Chatham, Kent, where e start boxing for St Mary’s ABC after e first try football. For amateur career, e compile unbeaten record of 24 wins, including 11 knockouts, win gold for Schools, Juniors, Youth European competitions and Heavyweight Youth World Championships before e turn professional for January 2023.
For professional career, Itauma don show say e mean business. E announce him arrival with 23-second knockout of Marcel Bode for debut and since then e don rack up 13 consecutive victories, with 11 by knockout, nine of dem inside first two rounds. The biggest highlight come for August 2025 when e demolish former world title challenger Dillian Whyte for one round to claim Commonwealth heavyweight title for Riyadh.
Frank Warren believe say world title fight fit come before end of 2026 if Itauma pass him upcoming clash with American Jermaine Franklin for March 28 for Manchester. “I feel say if Moses come through this fight, I think e set himself up for fighting for world title before end of year. Maybe even become youngest Brit to ever win world title,” the promoter talk.
Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr share the sentiment but e urge patience. “E fit be the next dominant force for sure, as long as dem no move am too fast,” Jones talk. Itauma currently rank as WBO number one contender after interim titlist Joseph Parker and dem vote am as The Ring magazine 2024 Prospect of the Year.
For him next fight, Itauma go face Jermaine Franklin wey dem call ‘989 Assassin’. Franklin don share ring with two more British stars Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. Even though e lose both fights by decision, e win rounds and take dem the distance, something wey Itauma still dey face challenge with. For him 13 professional fights, Itauma don only box total of just 26 rounds, so the 32-year-old Franklin fit provide the test wey Itauma and him team dey look for as dem dey step-up towards world honours.
The fight go hold for March 28 live from Co-op Live Arena for Manchester. The broadcast go begin 1pm ET / 10am PT / 5pm GMT while main event go start approximately 7pm ET / 4pm PT / 11pm GMT. The card go available to watch live worldwide on DAZN.
Franklin last fight na for September when e secure unanimous decision win over Ivan Dychko for undercard of Terence Crawford historic win over Canelo Alvarez on Netflix. For undercard of Itauma vs Franklin fight, dem go see other matches like Liam Davies vs Francesco Grandelli for EBU European Featherweight, Willy Hutchinson vs Ezra Taylor for WBO Global Light Heavyweight, and other matches wey go make the event complete.
As boxing world dey watch, all eyes dey on Moses Itauma to see if e go fulfill the big predictions wey top promoters and legends dey make about him future. With him Nigerian heritage and impressive record so far, many believe say e fit become the next big thing for heavyweight boxing division.
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