Queensberry promoter Frank Warren believes Moses Itauma is the best 21-year-old he has worked with in the sport.
Itauma will reclaim centre stage in the heavyweight division this week, with discourse over a potential ‘Battle of Britain’ between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua put on the backburner ahead of the Chatham southpaw’s 15th professional fight.
Undefeated Itauma (14-0, 12KOs) can become the second youngest world heavyweight champion of all-time behind Mike Tyson with the IBF belt on the line against Filip Hrgovic at O2 Arena on Saturday.
Whilst Itauma narrowly missed out on claiming the record held by Prince Naseem Hamed of youngest British world champion by two months, Warren was unequivocal in his belief no one comes close to the jewel in the crown of Queensberry Promotions.
Itauma will face an enormous challenge against Croatian veteran Hrgovic (20-1, 15KOs), but has been backed by Warren to pass this latest test.
“Look, Naz was a one-off, unbelievable, marmite personality for some people. You loved him, you hated him, but one thing’s for sure, he was exciting to watch and it’s the same thing with Moses,” Warren said on a call with British media earlier this month.
“You’ve not seen Moses in a boring fight – not once. He gets in that ring, you can feel the anticipation, the electricity in the air. You can feel everybody on the edge of their seats waiting to see what he’s going to do.
“What I’ve seen of Moses up to now and the calibre of the fighters he’s beaten, I know who the fighters are and some obviously may not have been the fighters they were a couple of years ago, but having said that, that’s the same for all fighters coming through.
“It’s how you win, how you go about your business, and the way he’s been fighting and the way he goes about his craft and applies his trade is far in front of anybody I can think of at his age.”
There is a symmetry with this bout with Hrgovic for Itauma and British rival Joshua’s own first world title victory in 2015.
Joshua also claimed the IBF belt in his third year as a professional and at the same venue of O2 Arena, but it was his 16th fight and he was 26.
Itauma’s ascent to the top of the division has been predicted for many years, but few were on board quite as early as Warren.
Warren said: “Look, that’s what we do as promoters and we invest in fighters that we believe in.
“We’ve been investing in Moses since he was 16. It’s not something overnight, he’s been with us now for coming up to his sixth year since he signed with us and this has all been part of the plan.
“And it’s a tough fight. I hope he wins it. I believe he can win it. If he doesn’t, it’s part of his education. I do believe he can win it, but I don’t see this as being an easy job by any means.”
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