An absurd notion, destined to be quickly dismissed? Or a concrete prospect that the financial power wielded by Turki Alalshikh will turn into reality? As of today, it’s impossible to say whether a fight between unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and the 20-year-old British prospect Moses Itauma will actually happen. But discussions on the matter are already in full swing, splitting opinions between those who see the idea as madness, given the enormous gap in experience, and those who would gladly give the prodigy the chance to make history right away.
A slap in the face to rules and meritocracy
From a strictly formal standpoint, there’s no doubt that several other fighters deserve to be ahead of Moses Itauma in line for the big opportunity. The Englishman has had only thirteen professional bouts and hasn’t yet defeated a single notable opponent. Even his most recent win, though technically over a “known” name, came against a rather faded Dillian Whyte, who hadn’t delivered a decent performance in more than four years.
According to the rules shared by the major world boxing organizations, Usyk’s next opponent should be New Zealand’s Joseph Parker, who earned his mandatory challenger status with three prestigious victories over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole—two of which came as the underdog. If you value meritocracy and dislike the idea of boxing being immune to it, you have to admit that letting Itauma leapfrog Parker would be a serious injustice.
A heavyweight who moves like a middleweight
So why do so many, starting with Alalshikh himself, want to see the showdown between the old lion and the sharp-toothed cub as soon as possible? The reason is simple: what Itauma has shown so far between the ropes has left even the most cautious and skeptical experts stunned. The fighter, born in Slovakia and raised in England from an early age, pulls off actions and movements that seem impossible for a man of his size.
His fluidity, his speed, and the incredible composure with which he lands his combinations without ever losing balance or coordination are qualities usually found in the lighter divisions. In the heavyweight class, they make him look almost extraterrestrial. Of course, his weaknesses may not have surfaced yet, but his strengths are enough to make many observers already prefer him to far more seasoned colleagues.
The Risk of Burning Out a Supreme Talent
“At worst, he’ll lose the fight and bounce back later.” Anyone who says this probably doesn’t have a deep knowledge of boxing history—or has deliberately chosen to forget parts of it. Time and again in the past, fighters with seemingly extraordinary potential were thrown too early into the lion’s den, only to come out broken and lose their way.
Although there are countless differences between the situations, it’s useful to recall the case of Gerry Cooney, the “Great White Hope,” who, due to the enormous media interest he generated, was matched against the legendary Larry Holmes despite never having gone past the eighth round. Cooney produced a competitive and thrilling fight, but he never truly recovered from that painful defeat and saw his career crumble. The risk of exposing Itauma to heavy punishment, and the psychological consequences that could follow, should not be underestimated.
A Story We’ve Seen Before… Or Not?
Among those pushing for this epic intergenerational clash are people like the excellent U.S. trainer Stephen Edwards, who argues that in the past, fighters of immense talent have often seized the opportunity to climb to the top of the world while still very young. In a post published on X, Edwards listed names such as Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Duran, Benitez, Leonard, Hearns, Tyson, Holyfield, Chavez, Arguello, Sanchez, De La Hoya, Trinidad, Jones, and Toney.
In truth, in my opinion, these comparisons are rather forced, each for different reasons. Some of those fighters faced opponents who tested them, knocked them down, or even defeated them before they reached the title. Others earned their world title shot after a far greater number of professional bouts than Itauma has under his belt. Still others built their foundations in the amateur ranks, with hundreds of fights. Itauma, by contrast, fought only 24 times as an amateur, making his case a true historical anomaly.
Impossible Feats Always Seem That Way
Even though this piece has explored several aspects that make it seem reckless to fast-track Moses Itauma into a fight with the reigning king Usyk, we’d like to close with a note of doubt. Defeating the undisputed heavyweight champion with such little experience behind him seems impossible, true, but how many historic feats of the past looked just as crazy on the eve of battle?
Didn’t it seem impossible for Sugar Ray Leonard, after just one fight in five years and after overcoming serious physical issues, to debut at middleweight and beat one of the all-time greats like Hagler? Didn’t it seem insane for a 17-year-old Wilfred Benitez to challenge a seasoned, experienced, and established champion like Cervantes? The list could go on. Usyk vs Itauma is undoubtedly madness—but sometimes it’s madness that forges legends out of those bold enough to dive in headfirst…