Gareth D. Davies says heavyweight contender Moses Itauma shouldn’t be put in with undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk or former division King Tyson Fury right now.
The journalist Davies states that the 20-year-old Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) can’t afford to lose, and he’d be giving away a lot of experience against the southpaw Usyk and the awkward ‘Gypsy King’ Fury.
Avoiding Usyk and Fury
Gareth believes Itauma can beat the big punchers in the division, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. However, he wouldn’t make the fight with Dubois right now either because if he lands one hard shot, he could KO Itauma, who moves around like he’s hiding glass in his chin.
Unless the money is enormous, Queensberry will hold off on putting Itauma in with Usyk, knowing what could happen if things don’t go well for him. Losing to Usyk at this early stage of Itauma’s career would ruin all the hard work Queensberry has done, and they would not be able to rebuild him into the money-maker that he would have been.
“I wouldn’t put him in with Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury right now. I think he’s capable of beating everyone else,” said Gareth A. Davies to Secondsout, talking about Moses Itauma. “He’s [Fury] a very awkward customer and very experienced, as is Usyk, a southpaw. I don’t think there is anyone [that can beat Itauma].”
That’s a premature comment from Gareth, because Itauma still hasn’t faced any of the talented fighters in the division. Dillian Whyte, 37, was old and never was anything more than a decent British-level heavyweight. Whyte didn’t have an amateur career to hone his skills the way many of the younger top-heavyweights in the division have had. Sadly, he is the only notable win on Moses Itauma’s resume, and he’s a bottom-drawer level fighter.
Top Heavyweights
- Agit Kabayel
- Joseph Parker
- Filip Hrgovic
- Bakhodir Jalolov
- Daniel Dubois
- Richard Torrez Jr.
- Martin Bakole
- Lenier Pero
Jalolov’s amateur experience
Itauma would have problems with the size, power, and technical skills of the 6’6″, two-time Olympic gold medalist Jalolov, who is also a southpaw with vastly more amateur experience. If Itauma couldn’t land one of his knockout shots against Jalolov, he could get outboxed and possibly stopped. Moses’ style wouldn’t be a problem for Jalolov to figure out, unlike the 13 journeymen that Queensberry has matched him against as a pro.
“They [Queensberry] won’t put him in with Daniel Dubois right now because a Daniel Dubois punch can end your night,” said Gareth about Itauma. “I think he’s [Itauma] capable of putting most of the big-punching heavyweights away inside five rounds: the Daniel Dubois, the Anthony Joshua. Parker is a hard fight for him.
“Agit Kabayel is a hard fight, simply because they’re at the peak of their powers. Daniel Dubois is a hard fight as well. Martin Bakole is more experienced. Lawrence Okolie is a strange fight.”
Last Updated on 08/18/2025
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