‘Not happening' – Moses Itauma next fight decision made moments after undefeated Brit's latest brutal KO
The 20-year-old now has ten blistering knockouts on his record
IT BOY 'Not happening' – Moses Itauma next fight decision made moments after undefeated Brit's latest brutal KO
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
MOSES ITAUMA has had a major step up in competition ruled out as his next opponent.
The Chatam clubber continued his surge up the heavyweight ranks in Glasgow on Saturday night with a blistering second-round KO of Mike Balogun.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
4
Moses Itauma blew Mike Balogun out of the water in the Glasgow clash
Credit: PA
4
Boxing fans are keen on seeing the Chatam clubber take on Martin Bakole next
Credit: PA
4
Promoter Frank Warren has ruled out the prospect of Itauma fighting Bakole next
Credit: Getty
Itauma dropped the American three times as he stretched his perfect record to 12-0, with ten of those wins coming via knockout.
Boxing fans are keen for the 20-year-old to take a step up in calibre of opponent, with Congolese-born Scot Martin Bakole being touted as an ideal opponent.
But Itauma promoter Frank Warren insists Bakole, who was blown out of the water in his short-notice showdown with Joseph Parker in February, isn't in the running to face the prospect.
When asked if the 31-year-old could face Itauma next, Warren told Queensberry Promotion's YouTube channel: 'No!
READ MORE ON ITAUMA
BAL OVER Itauma floors Balogun THREE times before brutal KO to tee up Usyk undercard bout
"Bakole's got to be able to get himself in shape, the state of him, not happening.'
Bakole was ringside for Itauma's battering of Balogun and had some choice words for the slick southpaw.
He said: "Moses has got a beautiful career before him. I want him to build up his career.
"But big Martin Bakole, [right] now, I think it is too early for him.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
4
Martin Bakole has warned Moses Itauma he's too big a step up in opponent at this moment in time
Credit: GETTY
"I want him to work hard and maybe be a world champion tomorrow.
"But I don't want him to pick me now because he'd be making a big mistake.
Moses Itauma: Future Heavyweight King is on Track to Break Mike Tyson's Record I Contender Documentary
"He's playing with the fire. [But] he's a man. If he thinks he can handle me, I'm open to it."
Itauma said of his latest demolition job: "I appreciate Mike Balogun, he is one tough cookie.
'I couldn't believe he got up from the second one.
"Thanks to Mike Balogun for taking the fight, because nobody else would.
"I don't have to worry about doing rounds, but my team wants to see me in a 10-rounder.
"And then I want in with the big dogs."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
7 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Rickie Fowler thrilled with Open Championship ticket as he silences critics' taunts
Popular American buzzing for Royal Portrush after super show at The Memorial Resurgent Rickie Fowler is thrilled to be going The Open having jammed criticism down the throats of snipers. The Californian star's top 10 finish behind winner Scottie Scheffler at The Memorial earned him a place in July's 153rd Championship at Royal Portrush. Fowler finished tied-sixth at the Northern Irish venue six years ago as Shane Lowry strode to success and now gets a chance to return having fought his way through struggles and qualified the hard way. The 36-year-old can't wait to get across the Atlantic and said: 'We're heading the right way. This week still could have been a lot better, but a definite positive is going over to Portrush. That's one I've wanted on the schedule. I had a great time when we were there the last and had a decent showing as well. Links golf's my favourite. "Portrush is a great spot, so excited for that opportunity. I knew top 10 (would be enough). That was obviously what I needed. Like I said, I left a lot out there and could have played a lot better, but still a nice step in the right direction.' Fowler's efforts were payback for the faith shown in him by the backers of The Memorial, Workday. Due to his slump in the rankings, the American star has not qualified for signature events this season in the States and been forced to rely on invites. His popularity means he always seems to get a pick along with Jordan Spieth, but that has drawn criticism over the meritocracy of the system to make such events. However, Fowler answered the sniping at Muirfield Village and said: 'With the position I've been in, not having played well and not being in these elevated events and having to hope and pray for sponsor invites, definitely very thankful to Workday and everyone involved with the tournament giving me the opportunity here. "And then not being in the majors. I've been thinking about that at times. I'm in a lot better spot now versus earlier in the year or going into where I was last year. I've been fighting hard and putting a lot of work in and trying to stay as patient as possible. I'm starting to finally see some good things and that work starts to pay off. So I'm excited for tournaments heading up.' Having secured his place at Portrush, Fowler's next task is to try to earn his spot in the US Open at Oakmont. He is in Monday qualifying as he looks to make it an Open double and said: 'Long day, hopefully we saved all the putts because nothing went in or wanted to go in Sunday. Let's see if we can play some solid golf and go get ourselves a tee time at Oakmont and go from there.'
Scottish Sun
29 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Rangers ‘interested in Jamie Vardy swoop as they eye sensational deal for Premier League legend'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS are reportedly among the clubs showing interest in Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy. The 38-year-old striker is a free agent after leaving the Foxes at the end of his contract. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Jamie Vardy acknowledges the fans following his final appearance at Leicester City Credit: Getty 3 Leicester City's Jamie Vardy silences Ipswich crowd after scoring Credit: Reuters 3 Vardy in action in final game for Leicester Credit: Getty He scored nine goals in the Premier League last season, which was not enough to keep Leicester from being relegated. Vardy has been linked with moves to clubs in England, Spain, the MLS and Saudi Arabia. And it now seems Rangers - under new American ownership - could also be in the hunt for his signature, according to the Daily Mail. The England international struck 200 times for Leicester in 500 appearances after signing for £1million from Fleetwood Town in 2012. He fired Leicester to a historic Premier League title in 2016 with 24 goals that season. Leicester's success is widely considered to be one of the best sporting achievements, starting the campaign as 5000/1 outsiders. They also clinched their first FA Cup in 2021 in what was a remarkable period for the club. Rangers icon Ally McCoist, who revealed he tried to sign the striker during his spell as manager at the club, recently said he would "take him in two minutes". He told TalkSport in 2020: "I remember looking at him when he was at Fleetwood and I was at Rangers. "I had John Brown, my chief scout, look at him two or three times and it was an absolute no-brainer but we couldn't get the money to sign him. Emotional Leicester fans say 'delete this' as club share pics of Jamie Vardy packing his things into a cardboard box "He's been fantastic. I couldn't get the money at that time, and we weren't talking about a lot of money. "It was unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. It was more the position our club was in at that particular time to tell you the truth. "Thankfully for Jamie he made the correct decision and never let me anywhere near him!" The Rangers revolution is beginning at Ibrox with the club under new American ownership. They are also being linked with Europa League winner Almamy Toure. The 29-year-old defender is a free agent after leaving German second division side Kaiserslautern. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Christian Horner slams Nico Rosberg after Max Verstappen disqualification demand
Nico Rosberg had suggested Max Verstappen should have been disqualified from the Spanish Grand Prix after the Red Bull Racing driver appeared to deliberately ram George Russell's Mercedes Christian Horner has snapped back at "sensationalist" Nico Rosberg after the Sky Sports pundit called for Max Verstappen to be disqualified. That request came shortly after the Spanish Grand Prix which ended in acrimony after Verstappen lost his head in the latter stages. Furious after contact with first Charles Leclerc and then Russell, the Dutchman believing the other driver had caused both, he then completely lost his temper when his Red Bull team, fearing that they were going to get a penalty for that first skirmish with Russell, asked him to cede a place to the Brit. Verstappen shouted furiously over the radio and then slowed down, appearing to comply despite his protests. But then, as Russell went around the outside of his Red Bull, the Dutchman appeared to deliberately turn to bang wheels with the Mercedes. Rosberg felt he had done it deliberately and said Verstappen should have been disqualified. The German said on Sky: "The first one, it was George's fault because he only complied with two out of those three things you have to comply with when you overtake, so Max could have stayed in front – he didn't have to give up that place. Sign up to our free weekly F1 newsletter, Pit Lane Chronicle, by entering your email address below so that every new edition lands straight in your inbox! "But then Red Bull told him to give up the place and that then caused his blood to boil over even more. And then it looked like a very intentional retaliation – wait for the opponent and then ramming into him, just like you felt he did to you. "And that is something that is extremely unacceptable, I think. The rules then would be a black flag, yes. If you wait for your opponent just to then ram into him, crash into him, that's a black flag." Asked about those comments, Red Bull chief Horner wouldn't be drawn into giving a full response, but made it clear what he felt of Rosberg's punditry style. The 51-year-old said: "Nico is quite sensationalist in the way that he commentates, so I'll leave it at that." Verstappen's moment of madness saw him slapped with a 10-second time penalty which dropped him to 10th place in the final classification. That meant he scored just one single point while his drivers' title rivals Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris accumulated maximum points by finishing first and second respectively. And the Dutchman is now also on the brink of a race ban. He now has 11 penalty points on his racing licence, having earned an extra three for his clash with Russell, meaning he will be forced to sit out one race if he picked up just one more point in the next two races. Two penalty points will then expire at the end of June, but the other nine he currently has won't begin to disappear until October, meaning Verstappen will had to tread a very fine line if he is to avoid that race ban.
