Usyk declares Itauma as next undisputed heavyweight champion

Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has identified 20-year-old Moses Itauma as the man most likely to succeed him in the division's top spot. Usyk's endorsement carries significant weight, given his recent victories over prominent heavyweights such as Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois.

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Moses Itauma, I think, is a great fighter. Young. 20 years old. I think Itauma has a big future.

When asked by talkSPORT about the future undisputed champion, Usyk stated, "Moses Itauma, I think, is a great fighter. Young. 20 years old. I think Itauma has a big future." The British-Nigerian boxer, who is unbeaten in 14 professional fights with 12 knockouts, has already earned praise from Tyson Fury. Fury, after sparring with Itauma in early 2024, posted on Instagram that Itauma is "the future of the heavyweight division."

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Moses Itauma is the future of the heavyweight division.

Promoter Frank Warren echoed this sentiment, calling Itauma "without a doubt the most talented and the best I’ve seen at this moment in time" for his age. Itauma currently holds the WBA international and WBO intercontinental heavyweight titles and is ranked as the WBO mandatory challenger and number one with the WBA. He is expected to headline at the O2 Arena in London on August 8, with negotiations underway for a fight against Filip Hrgovic.

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I have to be very, very honest with you, I’ve had a lot of young, really good, talented young fighters at an early age. And as a heavyweight at his age, he’s 21 now, he is without a doubt the most talented and the best I’ve seen at this moment in time.