Despite being only 21 years old, Moses Itauma has already captivated and impressed a huge number of fans and boxing insiders. On August 29, the young British heavyweight will have the opportunity to win his first world title when he takes on the experienced Filip Hrgovic, but many are already dreaming of seeing him face the division’s biggest names. Not everyone, however, believes he is ready to dominate the elite. Former world champion Duke McKenzie is among those urging caution.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the former English boxer, who won world titles at flyweight, bantamweight and super bantamweight, had this to say:
“It’s just my opinion, but Daniel Dubois is all wrong for Moses Itauma right now. Dubois is where he needs to be; confidence-wise, fitness-wise, power-wise, because he has been there and he has done a number on some of the other top heavyweights in the division.
“He has got the experience on his side. He has beaten Hrgovic, Joshua, so I think that right now, stylistically, he is all wrong for Moses Itauma and also I will throw Kabayel into the mix – he is another that is tried, tested and proven at this level.
“Alright, he just got a vacant title, he got the belt handed to him but he is a champion nonetheless. I think that he is kryptonite for Moses Itauma right now.
“I’m not saying that Moses isn’t an outstanding fighter, because he is. I’m not saying that he doesn’t win a world title, because I think he will. I just think that there are certain fighters that he doesn’t want to call out right now, because he still needs that experience to mix it with the elite fighters.”