Latest news with #WBO
Rhyl Journal
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Q&A: What next for rising star Moses Itauma after blowing away Dillian Whyte?
Whyte was expected to provide a stern test for the 20-year-old, but instead became the latest boxer to be steamrolled by one of the most exciting names in the blue-riband division. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at what lies ahead for Itauma and if he really is a world heavyweight champion in waiting. 'Moses would beat Usyk now' 👀@Tyson_Fury believes Moses Itauma is the real deal 🤝 — Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) August 17, 2025 Well, this was a statement result for the Chatham southpaw – no matter the level of Whyte, who was fighting on the biggest stage for the first time since 2022. Itauma was predicted to win in Riyadh but not as convincingly as he managed against a former world title contender. Even though the challenge in the ring only last 119 seconds, Itauma was tested during fight week. Whyte attempted to get under his skin during a prickly face-off and they also traded verbal blows at a press conference. But Itauma stayed cool, calm and collected on his first time headlining before letting his fists do the talking, just like in notable victories over Demsey McKean and Mariusz Wach. A post shared by Moses ITAUMA (@ Itauma's triumph on Saturday certainly caught the eye of Tyson Fury, who immediately insisted the Briton would beat Oleksandr Usyk – and the name of undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk continues to be linked with Itauma. Straight after Usyk demolished Daniel Dubois last month, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh called for the Ukrainian great to fight Itauma next. A recent 40-minute media session for Itauma with British press also saw him thrown a number of questions on Usyk. Itauma claimed that he would lose nothing from fighting Usyk now, but will Queensberry promoter Frank Warren put his young prospect in with a seasoned veteran after only 13 professional fights? Even if the answer is yes, Usyk has other contenders in the queue ahead of Itauma. 'I don't want to call out Usyk because I don't believe I deserve the opportunity – but guys that do deserve the opportunity, I want to fight those lot,' Itauma said. Itauma will wait with bated breath to discover Usyk's next move. Usyk has been ordered to fight WBO interim champion Joseph Parker next but has asked for an extension to negotiations. There is a very feasible scenario where Usyk vacates his WBO belt – and therefore loses undisputed status – to fight Fury or someone else, and opens the door for Itauma to get a world title shot in 2026. With Itauma the current number one with WBO, he would be first in line to profit if Usyk relinquishes that belt as a bout with Parker would be quickly arranged. Agit Kabayel, currently WBC interim champion, is a candidate for Itauma. There is also the prospect of another domestic affair, with Derek Chisora and Lawrence Okolie ringside in Riyadh, but after this latest devastating display, Itauma may have his sights set on bigger and better opponents on the grandest of stages.
South Wales Guardian
8 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Q&A: What next for rising star Moses Itauma after blowing away Dillian Whyte?
Whyte was expected to provide a stern test for the 20-year-old, but instead became the latest boxer to be steamrolled by one of the most exciting names in the blue-riband division. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at what lies ahead for Itauma and if he really is a world heavyweight champion in waiting. 'Moses would beat Usyk now' 👀@Tyson_Fury believes Moses Itauma is the real deal 🤝 — Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) August 17, 2025 Well, this was a statement result for the Chatham southpaw – no matter the level of Whyte, who was fighting on the biggest stage for the first time since 2022. Itauma was predicted to win in Riyadh but not as convincingly as he managed against a former world title contender. Even though the challenge in the ring only last 119 seconds, Itauma was tested during fight week. Whyte attempted to get under his skin during a prickly face-off and they also traded verbal blows at a press conference. But Itauma stayed cool, calm and collected on his first time headlining before letting his fists do the talking, just like in notable victories over Demsey McKean and Mariusz Wach. A post shared by Moses ITAUMA (@ Itauma's triumph on Saturday certainly caught the eye of Tyson Fury, who immediately insisted the Briton would beat Oleksandr Usyk – and the name of undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk continues to be linked with Itauma. Straight after Usyk demolished Daniel Dubois last month, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh called for the Ukrainian great to fight Itauma next. A recent 40-minute media session for Itauma with British press also saw him thrown a number of questions on Usyk. Itauma claimed that he would lose nothing from fighting Usyk now, but will Queensberry promoter Frank Warren put his young prospect in with a seasoned veteran after only 13 professional fights? Even if the answer is yes, Usyk has other contenders in the queue ahead of Itauma. 'I don't want to call out Usyk because I don't believe I deserve the opportunity – but guys that do deserve the opportunity, I want to fight those lot,' Itauma said. Itauma will wait with bated breath to discover Usyk's next move. Usyk has been ordered to fight WBO interim champion Joseph Parker next but has asked for an extension to negotiations. There is a very feasible scenario where Usyk vacates his WBO belt – and therefore loses undisputed status – to fight Fury or someone else, and opens the door for Itauma to get a world title shot in 2026. With Itauma the current number one with WBO, he would be first in line to profit if Usyk relinquishes that belt as a bout with Parker would be quickly arranged. Agit Kabayel, currently WBC interim champion, is a candidate for Itauma. There is also the prospect of another domestic affair, with Derek Chisora and Lawrence Okolie ringside in Riyadh, but after this latest devastating display, Itauma may have his sights set on bigger and better opponents on the grandest of stages.
North Wales Chronicle
8 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Q&A: What next for rising star Moses Itauma after blowing away Dillian Whyte?
Whyte was expected to provide a stern test for the 20-year-old, but instead became the latest boxer to be steamrolled by one of the most exciting names in the blue-riband division. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at what lies ahead for Itauma and if he really is a world heavyweight champion in waiting. 'Moses would beat Usyk now' 👀@Tyson_Fury believes Moses Itauma is the real deal 🤝 — Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) August 17, 2025 Well, this was a statement result for the Chatham southpaw – no matter the level of Whyte, who was fighting on the biggest stage for the first time since 2022. Itauma was predicted to win in Riyadh but not as convincingly as he managed against a former world title contender. Even though the challenge in the ring only last 119 seconds, Itauma was tested during fight week. Whyte attempted to get under his skin during a prickly face-off and they also traded verbal blows at a press conference. But Itauma stayed cool, calm and collected on his first time headlining before letting his fists do the talking, just like in notable victories over Demsey McKean and Mariusz Wach. A post shared by Moses ITAUMA (@ Itauma's triumph on Saturday certainly caught the eye of Tyson Fury, who immediately insisted the Briton would beat Oleksandr Usyk – and the name of undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk continues to be linked with Itauma. Straight after Usyk demolished Daniel Dubois last month, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh called for the Ukrainian great to fight Itauma next. A recent 40-minute media session for Itauma with British press also saw him thrown a number of questions on Usyk. Itauma claimed that he would lose nothing from fighting Usyk now, but will Queensberry promoter Frank Warren put his young prospect in with a seasoned veteran after only 13 professional fights? Even if the answer is yes, Usyk has other contenders in the queue ahead of Itauma. 'I don't want to call out Usyk because I don't believe I deserve the opportunity – but guys that do deserve the opportunity, I want to fight those lot,' Itauma said. Itauma will wait with bated breath to discover Usyk's next move. Usyk has been ordered to fight WBO interim champion Joseph Parker next but has asked for an extension to negotiations. There is a very feasible scenario where Usyk vacates his WBO belt – and therefore loses undisputed status – to fight Fury or someone else, and opens the door for Itauma to get a world title shot in 2026. With Itauma the current number one with WBO, he would be first in line to profit if Usyk relinquishes that belt as a bout with Parker would be quickly arranged. Agit Kabayel, currently WBC interim champion, is a candidate for Itauma. There is also the prospect of another domestic affair, with Derek Chisora and Lawrence Okolie ringside in Riyadh, but after this latest devastating display, Itauma may have his sights set on bigger and better opponents on the grandest of stages.
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Oleksandr Usyk update issued after calls for Moses Itauma fight
Usyk plans to fight once more having become undisputed heavyweight world champion for a second time last month by knocking out Daniel Dubois Oleksandr Usyk is no rush to make a decision about his future amid calls for him to defend his world titles against Moses Itauma. Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight world champion for a second time last month when he knocked out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley. The Ukrainian was then ordered to defend his titles against WBO mandatory Joseph Parker but has asked to delay his decision due to injury. Last weekend, Itauma stopped Dillian Whyte in the first round, a victory which promoted Saudi Arabian boxing chief Turki Alalshikh to call for a fight between Usyk and the 20-year-old Brit. But Sergey Lapin, a key member of Usyk's team, has called for patience. 'Throughout his entire professional career, both Oleksandr Usyk and our whole team have proven that we respect all potential opponents as well as the rules that govern professional boxing," Lapin told Ready To Fight. "Over the past year and a half, Usyk has accomplished a historic achievement by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion twice. That demanded tremendous physical and mental effort, and great sacrifice. "The champion has earned the chance to let his body recover from the effects of a punishing training regime and from injuries that are often invisible to the outside world. And, ultimately, simply to rest and spend time with his family. Most importantly: he has earned the right to choose his own future – and to take the time he needs to make that decision. So, guys, don't push the horses." Itauma himself was reluctant to call out Usyk, saying: "I don't want to call out (undisputed world heavyweight champion) (Oleksandr) Usyk because I don't believe I deserve the opportunity – but guys that do deserve the opportunity, I want to fight those lot. "So maybe Agit Kabayel, maybe Joseph Parker. Maybe them type of names. (But) as of right now, I am going to rest and then maybe be back in the gym." Tyson Fury, however, who lost twice to Usyk last year, believes Itauma is ready to take on the Ukrainian - and would beat him comfortably. "I keep getting asked about young Moses Itauma fighting Oleksandr Usyk and all the other big names," he said in a video posted to social media. 'My opinion is not someone who doesn't know boxing. My opinion is someone who has been there and won every single belt, won everything there is to win in boxing and done very well. "Boxing is a young man's game, like I told Wladimir Klitschko when he was 37. Boxing is a young man's game. It waits for nobody. So here is the opinion, and you heard it here first: Moses Itauma will wreck all them all old men out of the division. Usyk, AJ, Miller. Whoever there is that's old. Zhang, whoever else the f*** there is. Luis Ortiz... all these big names of the past."
The Age
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Eating his wife's placenta and drinking breast milk: The weird world of Nikita Tszyu
Nikita Tszyu will consume a double dose of his wife's placenta before returning to the boxing ring on Wednesday night for his first bout in 12 months. Washing it down with her breast milk is an optional extra. Tszyu's bizarre dietary habits have provided plenty of food for thought as the unbeaten 27-year-old prepares to take on German-based Macedonian Lulzim Ismaili at the ICC Sydney Theatre in their WBO intercontinental super-welterweight title fight. Since his daughter Curiosity was born two months ago, Tszyu has joined his wife – also named Nikita – in consuming her placenta. 'My wife found out about it,' he explained. 'She found out that there's a lot of ancient cultures that harvest the placenta, and it was packed with all these vitamins. And she asked me and I was like, 'Hell yeah.' 'We just got it freeze-dried by some hippie lady, and she gave us a bunch of capsules of it.' Tszyu said he takes two pills at a time but has to 'ration' them, because of the limited supply. 'I've got to wait until the next baby so I can get some more,' he said. 'I can't just smash through them.'
