Latest news with #Itauma
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Impossible to break Tyson record
Rising British star Moses Itauma says it was "impossible" for him to break Mike Tyson's record for the youngest heavyweight world champion. Tyson was 20 years and four months old when he became world champion in 1986, and Itauma passed that age on Saturday. Advertisement "When I turned professional it was about chasing that record. Now that record is off the books, I am just trying to take my time with it," Itauma told the BBC's 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast. "In the first two months of me being professional, I realised that goal's impossible. I was naive when I said that. I said that before I turned professional. "I didn't realise how much you can't control in this boxing game. You think since I turned professional, the world champions have been Daniel Dubois, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. "There's no way in two years I would have put myself in a position to fight them." Advertisement Itauma's two-round destruction of Mike Balogun on Saturday extended his record to 12 wins and 10 knockouts. He was initially marketed as the teenager to break Tyson's record, but denied it was only ever a clever "marketing strategy" for his career. Itauma is expected to challenge for a world title in the next few years and has been linked with a number of big names, including Joe Joyce. Martin Bakole, Jermaine Franklin and Otto Wallin hve been mentioned as potential opponents and Itauma's promoter Frank Warren has said he will fight on the undercard of Dubois' world title fight against Oleksandr Usyk on 19 July at Wembley Stadium. Advertisement Itauma does not expect his next fight to be a big name and said his team want him to be in some "10-round fights" before moving up a level in opponents. "There's guys that are tough cookies that ain't got a name. That's not ideal," he said. "You want a tough guy with a good name and they aren't cheap." More boxing from the BBC
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘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."
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Not happening' – Moses Itauma next fight decision made moments after undefeated Brit's latest brutal KO
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 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 When asked if the 31-year-old could face Itauma next, Warren told READ MORE ON ITAUMA "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. Most read in Boxing 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 ."
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Moses Itauma lined up to fight two heavyweight stars including boxing ‘bogeyman' after Mike Balogun return bout
Brit has a clear favourite on who he would rather fight MO AND MO OPTIONS Moses Itauma lined up to fight two heavyweight stars including boxing 'bogeyman' after Mike Balogun return bout MOSES ITAUMA already has two heavyweight stars lined up to fight him - including boxing's "bogeyman". Itauma has set the British boxing scene alight in just after just 11 bouts - delivering nine brutal knockouts. Advertisement 3 Moses Itauma faces off with Mike Balogun Credit: SNS He has even been dubbed the next Mike Tyson - who became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time aged 20. Finding willing opponents willing to put their reputation on the line against the 20-year-old Londoner has been tough. American Mike Balogun - a former NFL star-turned 21-1 heavyweight - stepped up to face Itauma tonight in Scotland. But Filip Hrgovic, 32, and Martin Bakole, 31, are two names in the running to fight the British youngster in the near future. Advertisement And Itauma said: 'Martin Bakole, not so much, Filip Hrgovic, yes. "The reason I say Martin Bakole no more is because Martin Bakole was a boogeyman, then he got knocked out by Joseph Parker and it's brought him back a bit. "Then he didn't have the best performance against Efe Ajagba and that's brought him back a little bit more." Bakole fought Parker, 33, on just two days notice in February after Daniel Dubois, 27, pulled out due to illness. Advertisement CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS But Bakole was beaten in a round before drawing to Ajagba, 31, in May. Itauma continued: 'If I fight Martin Bakole, that could give him a reason to top him back up, when I don't need to be that person. Mike Balogun is the former NFL star who knocked out the son of a heavyweight legend and now faces Brit star Moses Itauma "If he reclaims the person that he once was, the bogeyman of the division, then the fight with him would make sense. Advertisement "But why would you fight him on zero? You want him to rebuild himself.' Hrgovic lost to Dubois last June but returned with victory in April against Joe Joyce, 39. And Itauma said: 'Hrgovic, it's a different term. I think my team are keen to fight Hrgovic, but they want to see me in a 10-round fight first.' 3 Martin Bakole is linked with fighting Itauma Credit: Getty Advertisement
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Moses Itauma lined up to fight two heavyweight stars including boxing ‘bogeyman' after Mike Balogun return bout
MOSES ITAUMA already has two heavyweight stars lined up to fight him - including boxing's "bogeyman". Itauma has set the British boxing scene alight Advertisement 3 Moses Itauma faces off with Mike Balogun Credit: SNS He has even been Finding willing opponents willing to put their reputation on the line against the 20-year-old Londoner has been tough. American Mike Balogun - But Filip Hrgovic, 32, and Martin Bakole, 31, are two names in the running to fight the British youngster in the near future. Advertisement And Itauma said: 'Martin Bakole, not so much, Filip Hrgovic, yes. "The reason I say Martin Bakole no more is because Martin Bakole was a boogeyman, then he got knocked out by Joseph Parker and it's brought him back a bit. "Then he didn't have the best performance against Efe Ajagba and that's brought him back a little bit more." Bakole fought Parker, 33, on just two days notice in February after Daniel Dubois, 27, pulled out due to illness. Advertisement Most read in Boxing CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS But Bakole was beaten in a round before drawing to Ajagba, 31, in May. Itauma continued: 'If I fight Martin Bakole, that could give him a reason to top him back up, when I don't need to be that person. Mike Balogun is the former NFL star who knocked out the son of a heavyweight legend and now faces Brit star Moses Itauma "If he reclaims the person that he once was, the bogeyman of the division, then the fight with him would make sense. Advertisement "But why would you fight him on zero? You want him to rebuild himself.' Hrgovic lost to Dubois last June but returned with victory in April against Joe Joyce, 39. And Itauma said: 'Hrgovic, it's a different term. I think my team are keen to fight Hrgovic, but they want to see me in a 10-round fight first.' 3 Martin Bakole is linked with fighting Itauma Credit: Getty Advertisement 3 Joe Joyce lost to Filip Hrgovic Credit: Getty
