Moses Itauma can be Britain's youngest world champion if he follows this blueprint

Telegraph

10 hours ago

Moses Itauma is on course to become not only Britain's youngest heavyweight world champion but the second-youngest of all time, behind Mike Tyson and ahead of Floyd Patterson. That is some company for the 20-year-old from Kent.
Enriko 'Moses' Itauma came to Chatham as an eight-year-old from Slovakia. It is still very early days, but like Emma Raducanu in tennis, Luke Littler in darts and Wayne Rooney in football, this fighter is being hailed as a rare talent.
They say 'if you're good enough, you're old enough' and Itauma falls into that category. But unlike with the prodigies mentioned, one defeat in boxing wipes out your aura.
After just 12 fights, Itauma now steps up a level in opponent and class, headlining a card on Saturday night against the experienced Dillian Whyte in Riyadh.
Win convincingly and the match-making will be seen as genius. Lose and the noise acclaiming Itauma's brilliance will disappear. Here is how he can be fast-tracked to the very top...
Whyte the acid test
Itauma's ascent has been rapid, but this is a high-profile and dangerous challenge against cult-figure Whyte, who may be 37 but is a proud, experienced fighter who has fought for world honours. Whyte has lost to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, yet with 21 knockouts from 31 victories, he has experience and power.
Whyte has boxed 192 rounds over 34 fights since 2011. His survival instincts inside and outside the ring are legendary. He has been shot, became a father at 13 and most of his childhood friends are dead or in prison – so it is not hard to see why he insists he is immune to being written off. Whyte also looks in tremendous shape under American trainer Buddy McGirt. Whyte is believed to be earning a purse of about £2m and Itauma's purse is likely similar.
The 13th contest of Itauma's fledgling career is his fifth under trainer Ben Davison, with the southpaw winning 10 of his fights so far by knockout. The lack of experience, especially if Itauma is dragged into the trenches, or given a gut punch, could test the young man.
Who knew Moses Itauma was a baller too ⚽️ #WhyteItauma | Aug 16th | @ringmagazine | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/bJXKya75H6
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) August 13, 2025
Parker next on the list
The fast-track route to a world title would mean defeating Whyte, then perhaps having one fight in between against a top-10 opponent, then potentially fighting Joseph Parker for the World Boxing Organisation crown. Parker is the WBO interim champion, Itauma is ranked No 1 by the WBO, and Oleksandr Usyk holds the belt. There is a huge difference going into this fight with Whyte – whose peak performances were between 2018 and 2021 – than facing Parker, who is ranked No 3 in the world.
When could Usyk bout happen?
If all the chips are pushed on to the table, Itauma could take the greatest challenge against Usyk next year. But it is a huge gamble. Saudi minister Turki Alalshikh has already said his wish is to see it happen, and if he is prepared to put up the purse, it could be a goer.
In reality, conventional wisdom suggests it is too soon. If the great Ukrainian, who will turn 39 in January, can be tempted into it, a shot at perhaps three, if not all, the belts is there for Itauma, who said he would take the fight. 'I've nothing to lose fighting Usyk next year,' Itauma said this week. 'Whatever happens, it would be a win-win for me.'
It might also be a win-win for Usyk, who has 24 unbeaten professional fights after 350 amateur bouts, and he might fancy getting Itauma early, before Usyk reaches the age of 40.
Moses Itauma shows off his hand speed at today's open workout ⚡
Esports World Cup Fight Week 25 | Aug 16th | LIVE on DAZN 📺 pic.twitter.com/HysQKwd06E
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) August 13, 2025
Match-making key on journey to summit
Itauma is a very gifted fighter, with an old head on young shoulders. The team around him are very smart. Frank Warren promotes him, while his son, Francis Warren, has managed Itauma from the start.
The Warrens are adept at bringing fighters through. Itauma has the potential to become as big a star as Fury or Joshua in this country. Outside the challenges with Whyte, Parker and Usyk, there are several other dance partners in the next few years. Agit Kabayel, the WBC interim champion, Daniel Dubois, Lawrence Okolie, Martin Bakole and perhaps even Joshua. Time will tell.
Family left Slovakia over 'race issues'
Itauma moved to the UK from Slovakia when he was eight as the son of two immigrants; his father Charles is Nigerian, his mother Martina is Slovakian. He lives in Bromley with his mum and recalls little of his early life but has said 'there were some race issues' in Slovakia and his parents moved for 'greater opportunities'.
He is 6ft 4in, weighs 17 and a half stone, has a reach of 79in, bringing a combination of technical excellence, skill, power, composure and self-belief. Even a tinge of arrogance. He had 20 amateur fights, with 10 knockouts. He claimed gold at the European and World Youth Championships before turning professional in 2023. He had seven fights that year, four last year, and has one victory in 2025. So far, Itauma has boxed just 25 rounds in 12 fights.
Moses Itauma and Dillian Whyte showing each other respect backstage at the open workout 🤝
Esports World Cup Fight Week 25 | Aug 16th | LIVE on DAZN 📺 pic.twitter.com/EqovhCFAlq
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) August 13, 2025
Is youngster over-hyped?
From the outside, it appears he is being fast-tracked too quickly, but he has been sparring formidable heavyweights Daniel Dubois, Joe Joyce – famously when Itauma was 15, straight from school, removing his blazer to step into the ring – Fury and Lawrence Okolie for years.
Itauma claimed this week that he contacted Whyte for sparring six years ago – that would have made him 14. Yet his inexperience is a grave concern. Trainer Ben Davison, who oversaw Fury's return from a personal abyss and who has Joshua in the same 'performance centre' in Harlow, is credited by Itauma for stimulating his interest in the sweet science. Davison has opened up Itauma's mind to the physical chess game that boxing can be. Davison told Telegraph Sport he would put Moses 'in with any one of the top 10 heavyweights in the world' right now.
History beckons
Tyson is the youngest heavyweight champion in history. The American had boxed 74 rounds by the time he fought for a world title against Trevor Berbick at the Las Vegas Hilton in November 1986. It was his 28th fight and he claimed his first belt at 20 years, four months and 22 days old. Three fights later, Tyson was undisputed champion.
Over the next nine fights (including victories over Larry Holmes and Frank Bruno) Tyson dominated the sport yet his reign came to a shuddering halt when defeated by long-odds underdog James 'Buster' Douglas in Tokyo in 1990, Tyson's 38th contest. His record as the youngest ever is unlikely to be broken.
Itauma will turn 21 on December 28. If he claims a world title by November 2026, he will become the second-youngest heavyweight in history. Patterson is second youngest at 21 years, 10 months. Muhammad Ali is third youngest at 22 years, eight days; George Foreman is fifth at 24 years and 12 days; of the modern heavyweights, Wladimir Klitschko is 10th, at 24 years, six months and 19 days.
What happens on Saturday night?
The bookmakers have Itauma as the odds-on favourite to win. They think the two fighters are crossing on escalators going in different directions. But there are risks for Itauma. I'm choosing him to triumph by stoppage in the first half of the fight, with fast feet and fast hands winning the exchanges. That said, Whyte cannot be ruled out. There might be a few moments of drama early on, but if Itauma wins spectacularly, the hype train will grow. Lose, and it will be back to the drawing board.