Something happens in heavyweight. A 20-year-old mixes up the scene, walking on Mike Tyson’s traces. Saudi-Mogul Turki al-Heikh is already calling for a classic generational duel. And the king? Has no hurry. Oleksandr Usyk first applies for an acceptance permit. For Germany’s heavyweight star Agit Kabayel, a door could open.
The term shooting star fits Moses Itauma like the right fist, with which the Briton put down its compatriot Dillian Whyte in the Kingdom Arena of Riad on Saturday.
From a short distance, the dry “head shot” hit the lifting of the 37-year-old veteran. Whytes legs then refused to command the shaken command center in the brain. The end after less than two minutes.
Itauma’s eleventh co-victory in the 13th struggle like a breeze. The announced first tough test in the person of the seasoned Whyte, once a World Cup challenger from Tyson Fury, was missing. Itauma passed the “Augentest” all the impressive.
Certainly: The worn -up battletross Whyte was only a shadow of earlier days. How lightly the 20-year-old ITAUMA was incorporated his opponent has caused many connoisseurs to rave.
“I’m saying something now: At this age, in the number of fights he had, he is the best talent I have ever dealt with,” cheered promoter Frank Warren and hurried afterwards that he finally had to deal with some of the best British boxers and other world masters from anywhere. “
Usyk has not yet boxed one like itauma
Well, when itauma’s string puller is obliged to promote Warren. The 73-year-old is by no means the only one that the fist jewel tears from the stool. As beyond the big pond, there is hardly an expert who does not answer the question of the upcoming superstar in heavyweight with “Moses Itauma”.
The English -born Englishman with Nigerian roots in Slovakia brings a fairly unique overall package into the ring. With 1.94 meters and a weight in the range of 106 to 108 kilos, itauma is not a tapsy colossus, but briskly on the legs, captivates with a feeling of balances and fast combinations.
In addition, the man from Kent understands something from the finish, attracts his opponents, sees counterattacks and reacts accordingly thanks to his footwork and a movable upper body. And then itauma is also a legal interpreter.
Perhaps the Saudi Box-Mogul Turki al-Heikh is already calling for the generational duel between heavyweight king Oleksandr USYK and the inexperienced Itauma. The Youngster has strengths that British USYK victims Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois have, or only to a lesser extent.
A quick “Southpaw” with steam in both hands, agile through the ring, that has not had a challenger, even left -handers, has not had in front of the fists since his heavyweight throne.
For ex-world champion Fury, beaten twice from Usyk in 2024, it is clear: If the fight comes, itauma will “demolish” the master.
Parker as a World Cup stopover?
The advance laurels don’t care. He is not a market for the “Gypsy King” – on the contrary. “If I am totally honest, Joseph Parker and (agit) Kabayel earn her chance, but I would also love to take the chance,” said Itauma about a possible fight against USYK.
The British box hope is in no hurry. “I am only 20 years old, maybe I have ten or 15 years of career,” said Itauma a loose look into the future. Of course, the Englishman makes no secret of his ambitions. A World Cup fight seems only a matter of time.
Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight champion in history is no longer to be cracked for Itauma (will be at the end of December 21). Second place in front of boxing legend Floyd Patterson (21 years/10 months) and the “biggest” Muhammad Ali (22/8) is possible.
“Attention, I’m number 1 in the WBO ranking. Parker is …, maybe that’s a good fight,” itauma brought the New Zealand as possible as a possible stopover in his navigation system programmed on world champion.
An interesting train of thought, because Parker, as a WBO interim champion, is a compulsory challenger of heavyweight king Usyk, who, in addition to the WBO title, also holds the belts from WBA, WBC and IBF.
Usyk requests exemption from WBO
The WBO only obliged Usyk to defend the title against Parker on July 24, set the fighters a period of 30 days. Until then, a deal must be. However, Usyk presses on the brake.
The world champion was injured and applied for an exception to the WBO to get more time for the negotiations, Frank Warren recently let “Sky Sports” know.
One thing is clear: Usyk can choose his next challenger, WBO or not. The 38-year-old has crowned the “undisputed champion” of the big associations three times (once in the cruiser, twice in heavyweight). Questionable whether he can be driven by association statutes on the home stretch of his unique career. Usyk has announced to box again and then stop.
If the heavyweight king whistles onto the WBO, the officials are likely to shut down the belt and enthronize Parker. Itauma could get his World Cup chance against the Kiwi fighter at the end of the year. In Great Britain, the historically contested title mission of the super talent could be sold better than a duel between USYK and Parker.
Parker vs. Itauma would have its charm for the promoters and Saudi sponsors al-sheikh. The winner could send the winners in 2026 wonderfully in the next multimillion blockbuster to send the undisputed heavyweight world championship against USYK to the rope square.
Usyk vs. Kabayel in Germany?
The question is what the champion does until then. In Germany’s boxstar Agit Kabayel, Usyk also has an interim champion at the WBC as a “mandatory” on the note. The “Leberking” from the Ruhrpott sees itself as a “biggest challenge” of the unbeaten ruler, as Kabayel in an interview with RTL/NTV and sport.de emphasized.
Video: Exclusive: Kabayel challenges Usyk
If Usyk actually lets his WBO mandate whiz, a door could open for Kabayel. A World Cup fight in Germany would also offer the Ukrainian a special stage.
In Germany there is “the greatest concentration of Ukrainians outside Ukraine,” said Kabayel manager Spencer Brown sport.de to consider. A duel between Usyk and his protégé would make football stadiums full in Germany.
A hope that also has Kabayel. Dee Usyk really one last hurray in boxing ring, “why shouldn’t he want to cede before his own fan base?” Asked the 32-year-old.
“With this fight we can sell every stadium-be it the Veltins-Arena on Schalke or the Merkur-Arena in Düsseldorf. I have a huge support here and in Germany, many Ukrainians live.”