The subsequent heavyweight of biblical proportions has, I imagine, arrived on the scene, and his title is Moses. There’s a promising (nay, miraculous) younger man from England at present menacing boxing’s banner division. Enriko “Moses” Itauma was born December 28, 2004 to a Slovakian mom and Nigerian father, in Kezmarok, Slovakia and in 2008 he joined his household within the UK, the ménage immigrating each to flee racism and to hunt higher alternatives. And I, for one, imagine they’ve discovered these alternatives by way of the simple expertise of this 20-year-old southpaw. “Moses” Itauma is on a one-way climb to the very high of, not Mount Sinai, however the peak of the heavyweight mountain in skilled boxing.
At the moment a resident of Chatham, Kent, “The Portside Pillager” (my most popular appellation for this imposing pugilist) weighs 250 kilos and stands about 6’4″, and whereas he lacks the sculpted body of say, Anthony Joshua or a younger Mike Tyson, he could actually be as gifted as the previous “Child Dynamite.” What makes Moses particular is his hybrid of pace, energy, poise, and boxing acumen. The one facets of his fistic formation that haven’t been absolutely examined are his chin, coronary heart, and stamina. Nonetheless, on his rise by way of the ranks so far he has gone the six-round distance twice, and has absorbed a stout shot or two with no problem by any means. After all, it’s powerful to construct stamina and show the durability of your mandible if you’ve starched all ten of your knockout victims within the first two frames.
Coach Ben Davison is doing a commendable job guiding the younger southpaw, the previous having assumed the teaching of Moses from Alan Smith in 2024, however the youthful Nigerian-Slovak seems smart past his years with reference to techniques and technique. He’s aggressive however doesn’t rush, starting a battle with feints to the top and torso and scrutinizing his adversary’s reactions whereas probing for openings. He’s additionally lightning fast in getting out and in, slipping his foe’s leads with grace and ease. The lad has a pointy proper jab, all the time a high asset from both mitt, however his timing and precision are impeccable as effectively. One other key ingredient in his repertoire is the terrific leverage Itauma will get on his punches with both fist. They’re brief, direct, and lethal correct, and he mixes them superbly to the physique and head—jab, hook, cross, and uppercut.
Intriguingly, Itauma has said that one of many boxers whose abilities he admired and tried to emulate was not a fellow heavyweight, however former featherweight world champion Naseem Hamed. Moses watched highlights of “The Prince” time and again in an effort so as to add a few of Naz’s herky-jerky strikes, sneak counters, and one-shot KO power to his personal boxing model. And he seems to have performed so. With the freakish hand and foot pace he possesses for a dreadnaught, Itauma is ready to pull off just about any maneuver he can conceive, which makes him a really harmful and unpredictable adversary.
The same old assortment of clay pigeons had been served at first of Itauma’s profession, however he has since stepped up the extent of magnitude when it comes to opposition. A yr in the past he confronted skilled trial-horse Mariusz “The Viking” Wach of Poland, who’s listed at six toes seven and about 260 kilos. Wach had gone twelve rounds in 2012 with Wladimir Klitschko, however Itauma stopped him in two because of some shrewd and lightning-quick mixture punching. Within the course of Moses additionally confirmed off some efficient defensive approach as he made Wach miss the goal with evasive head and higher physique motion.
His eleventh sufferer was Australian southpaw Demsey “The Tower of Terror” McKean (6’6″, 245 kilos), whose solely earlier loss was to high contender Filip Hrgovic. Demsey couldn’t do “Jack,” should you’ll pardon the pun, towards Moses, besides to fall in spherical one. Regardless of the awkwardness introduced by a fellow left-hander, one a lot rangier than himself, Itauma used hand and foot pace, feinting, and a canny sense of timing to dominate. An ideal right-left, body-head combo completed McKean after barely two minutes of motion.
The newest outing was this previous Might 24, when Moses downed American Mike “Silverback” Balogun, a former professional soccer linebacker. He’s one more southpaw (would possibly they be prepping Moses for an Usyk conflict?), whose solely skilled shortfall was a 2023 TKO loss to former IBF and WBA cruiserweight champion Murat “Iron” Gassiev. Balogun confirmed a great deal of coronary heart and toughness as he fearlessly swung for a KO win, solely to undergo a second spherical knockout as a substitute, in a way that leaves one greedy for superlatives.
As soon as once more Itauma confirmed electrifying foot pace in backing away from punches. I imply, his mobility could be distinctive for a middleweight, however is downright mind-blowing for a heavyweight. The younger man is preternatural in a few of his actions, and his steadiness and weight-shifting are extraordinary. In opposition to Balogun, the pugilistic prodigy feinted superbly along with his proper knee and hand, in a way paying homage to Oleksandr Usyk, however with a wider stance, whereas jabbing to the physique to decrease his opponent’s guard. Preserving his proper shoulder excessive to guard his chin, Moses regularly altered his angle of assault, exhibiting cobra-quick reflexes each when slipping punches and countering. Itauma is comfy staying in mid-range, and his ultimate two knockdowns of Balogun had been scored by devastating right-hand counters, which truly must be considered in tremendous slo-mo to be absolutely appreciated.
The professional report of Moses now stands at 12-0 with ten knockouts, and whereas he wished to interrupt Mike Tyson’s mark because the youngest ever heavyweight champion (at 20 years, 4 months, 22 days), he lately aged out of that chance. However the shortly rising teenager shouldn’t be in a rush, for being so typically results in disappointment. His subsequent match is ready for August sixteenth in Saudi Arabia, a showdown with 37-year-old veteran Dillian Whyte, and until “The Physique Snatcher” has by some means stumbled upon the fountain of youth, this ought to be one other spectacular demolition. What Itauma actually wants at this stage is a sturdy pug who can lengthen him a number of rounds, however, nonetheless, he has proven unimaginable progress and technical evolution in simply his previous three fights.
And so, casting a discerning eye on the present huge man division, I for one am comfy in predicting extraordinary issues from the younger portsider who has emerged from Kent and really quickly will probably be mentioned as a menace to any of the established names within the heavyweight class. You heard it right here: Moses goes to the highest of the mountain. Quickly Nice Britain can have one other heavyweight champion of the world, and a fighter whose title could at some point be remembered as a legend among the many huge boys. –Christopher J. LaForce
