“IF they said, tomorrow you’re fighting King Kong, I’ll be like, no problem…”
That’s the mindset of Moses Itauma, the young man already tipped to become heavyweight champion of the world.
GettyItauma is on a journey to become world heavyweight champion[/caption]
The SunThe young Brit is part of Frank Warren’s talented stable of boxers and managed by his son Francis[/caption]
The SunItauma has given SunSport a glimpse behind the scenes of his life in and out of the ring[/caption]
The SunThe heavyweight star uses golf to try to unwind but admits his brain is always thinking about boxing[/caption]
He’s was recently dubbed the “most talented teenage heavyweight since Mike Tyson“.
Aged just 20, the Kent boxing star is already 11-0 in his incredible career, with nine of those wins coming via KO.
His most-recent fight was meant to be the toughest so far – against 6ft 6in southpaw Demsey McKean, nicknamed the Tower.
Itauma – born in Slovakia to a Slovakian mum and Nigerian dad – knocked him out within a single, savage round.
So it’s hardly a surprise Itauma – the Chatham-based 6ft 4in ‘Wrecking Ball’ – would fancy his chances against King Kong.
But what makes the 20-year-old tick? SunSport has gone behind the scenes to delve into the man outside of the ring.
In the latest video in our Contender series, Itauma gives us a glimpse into his gym workouts, meetings with promoter Frank Warren and even unwinding on the golf course.
And one thing is clear, he’s a focused boxing machine… he can’t even switch off during his downtime.
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Speaking in SunSport’s exclusive Contender documentary, Itauma said: “The thing is, with boxing, it’s such a difficult sport because you try to ignore the fact that you’re about to have a fight and there’s a possibility you could really get hurt.
“So then you go, ‘let me play golf, let me go bowling, let me go do this and that’. But it’s still there in the back of your mind, like the elephant in the room.”
Itauma is next due to fight in May. He doesn’t have an opponent lined up yet, but manager Francis Warren is hot on the case.
In the meantime, the future champ gets down to business kicking off his training camp, where he is guided by Ben Davison, who trained both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
And the first job? Get back to fight weight and, above all else, keep improving.
Itauma said: “Going back into camp, the intense training starts… probably getting my weight down, getting fit, and then in about a couple of weeks I’ll start sparring.
“I use the first two to four weeks to lose weight and get in shape.
“Camp is moody, but when I’m out of camp, it’s like, what did you do? What’s now?
“My last fight was with Dempsey McKean in Saudi Arabia. He was meant to be the tough test… and I got rid of him in the first round.
“Now it’s about making another step up, isn’t it?
“Obviously I have my goals in mind, but my job is only to get into the ring and fight.
“I can’t really control everything outside of the ring. That’s obviously Francis’ job, well my team’s job.
“And I’m not going to worry about something I can’t control, do you know what I mean?”
The SunMoses Itauma, on right, learned his craft at St Mary’s boxing club in Chatham, Kent, as a schoolboy with brother Karol[/caption]
Moses Itauma has worked with Tyson Fury, who also fought for Frank Warren’s Queensbury
When pushed, Itauma does admit he lives for “career defining moments” and “positive steps forward”.
But the Chatham star refuses to be drawn into the world of online feuds and calling people out for fights.
He’s all business.
Itauma revealed: “When it comes down to opponents and titles you want the most career-defining fights, no side steps, everything has to be a positive move forward.
“That might sound quite generic but at the moment there isn’t anything specific to go off.
“You’re not shaped like that to go and call people out but when you start mentioning other people’s names… you’re either elevating them or making the fight harder to make.”
He talks a good game, a smart game. For a young man, he’s incredibly mature, in and out of the ring.
Itauma admits he’s not paid to talk, he just wants to fight.
He bagged some GCSEs after his dad insisted he finished his schoolwork before heading down to St Mary’s boxing gym in Chatham to put the hours in.
Itauma, whose brother Karol, 24, is a rising light-heavyweight with 13 wins from his 14 fights – is clearly intelligent.
But it was clear boxing was his No1 goal, joking: “Look at me now… I’m punching people in the face for a living.”
He once turned up in school uniform aged just 15 to spar with veteran heavyweight star Joe Joyce.
Joyce initially “took it easy” on the kid before realising he had to “get into gear” to avoid a brutal and humiliating KO.
The SunMoses Itauma told SunSport all about his ambitions[/caption]
GettyMoses Itauma has shown off his destructive power in the ring, with an 11-0 record with 9 KOs[/caption]
Just five years on and Itauma is now an established heavyweight star, popping up on the radar of the division’s biggest names.
So what’s next? “I don’t know”, says the humble star.
Itauma continues: “I know about my progress and my journey but I’m not involved in every conversation. I don’t need to be.
“My job is getting to the ring and fighting whoever they put in front of me.
“Even if they said tomorrow ‘you’re fighting King Kong’, I’ll be like ‘no problem let’s make a game plan’.
“Who I fight it’s not down to me it’s down to my team.”
But don’t confuse that for a lack of ambition – Itauma once revealed he wanted to break Mike Tyson’s record for the youngest heavyweight champion ever.
The legendary Iron Mike was 20 years and four months when he battered Trevor Berbick on November 22, 1986.
Itauma will be roughly the same age for his next fight in May…
Despite that, Britain’s budding boxing superstar remains modest.
“It’s not the world championship that’s gonna bring me joy or happiness. it’s the journey to it and I’m on the journey right now.”
Wise words from such a young man, who fans will no doubt be hearing a lot more from in the coming years.
GettyMike Tyson becomes the youngest heavyweight champ ever by beating Berbick in 1986[/caption]
GettyMoses Itauma next fights in May, with his opponent to be confirmed[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
