Oleksandr Usyk vs Moses Itauma: Should it be the next heavyweight super-fight?

Independent

7 days ago

It took just a matter of minutes for Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh to line up Oleksandr Usyk 's next opponent after his dominant victory over Daniel Dubois on Saturday night.
'I want to see Usyk against Itauma. This is the fight,' Alalshikh tweeted from ringside at Wembley.
It was a bold declaration from Alalshikh considering Itauma has only had 12 professional fights and is still only 20 years of age.
Usyk has also previously hinted that his next fight could be his last. Will he really want it to be against a young, untested rising star?
Here, we weigh up whether Usyk vs Itauma should be the heavyweight division's next super-fight.
Usyk adored in the UK
The reception that Usyk got at Wembley on Saturday night was remarkable. Dubois may have been fighting on home turf, but it appeared the crowd were largely behind his Ukrainian opponent.
British fans recognise greatness when they see it, and Usyk received the love of the fans before, during and after his victory. He later declared in his post-fight press conference that the UK had become his 'second home' as he has so many fond memories on these shores.
With this in mind, it would make sense to bring him back over to the UK again, but he needs a fresh challenge.
He has already seen off Dubois, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua twice each, after beating Tony Bellew and Derek Chisora.
Itauma may be the only Brit left that can give him a genuine challenge, and you can be sure that fans would fill out a football stadium once more to get another glimpse of Usyk before he retires.
Itauma is still green
Itauma has been hugely impressive since turning professional at 18. But it must be remembered that he has only had a dozen bouts and his best win is over Demsey McKean. The Australian is a solid contender, but can hardly be described as world class.
Putting Itauma in with Usyk in the near future would be a huge step up, and one that may simply be too soon for him.
He is due to face Dillian Whyte next month, and this should be a good test against a former world title challenger.
But even if he wins, it may still be best to hold Itauma back to give him more experience against ranked contenders.
That way Itauma can continue to prove himself and make sure he is ready for a world title shot in the next 12-18 months.
Eyeball test
Having raised concerns about Itauma's experience, it mut be said that the young southpaw does pass the eyeball test.
In his fledgling career, he has looked wise beyond his years, never rushing his work as he picks apart his opponents.
The young Brit appears to have everything needed to become the heavyweight champion of the world.
His power is unquestionable, but he also moves well for a man that stands 6 ft 4in tall. In his last fight against Mike Balogun, Itauma's footwork to move in and out of range while catching his opponent coming forward really caught the eye.
Usyk is the best mover in the division, ensuring he is never a stationary target, but Itauma also glides around the ring smoothly and the styles could gel well together.
Jumping the queue
Itauma is ranked inside the top 10 of the heavyweight division by all four governing bodies. But it would be hard to justify him being next in line.
Joseph Parker has convincingly beaten Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole in his last three fights, while Agit Kabayel is also on a brilliant run of form. Both men have every right to believe they should get a shot at Usyk ahead of Itauma.
Fellow Brit Fabio Wardley also picked up a big win over Justis Huni last month, and could argue he has a better resume than Itauma right now.
However, Parker, Kabayel and Wardley do not carry the same appeal as Usyk's most recent opponents, and there is plenty of excitement building around Itauma which could help him jump the queue.
AJ and Fury are bigger draws
Fans are sitting up and taking more notice of Itauma with every passing fight, but he is still some way from having the following of Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua.
Usyk teased a trilogy bout with either man after his win over Dubois, and it is clear that they would remain the big-money fights in the division.
But Usyk has two wins over Fury and Joshua, proving beyond doubt that he is the superior heavyweight.
It would be good to see him face a fresh face, and Itauma could fit the bill.
Final verdict
It appears to be a question of when and not if Itauma will become a world champion. He has all the tools to go to the very top.
But chucking him in with an all-time great in Usyk at this stage of his career may be an irresponsible move.
Itauma is still learning his craft and ought to be given time to make further improvements.