The coaching team for Moses Itauma is open to the idea of him facing Oleksandr Usyk, despite Itauma being early in his professional journey. At just 20 years old and with only 13 bouts under his belt, Itauma is already attracting significant attention in the heavyweight division.
Usyk, the reigning undisputed heavyweight champion, is widely regarded as the premier fighter of his generation. Nevertheless, Itauma has quickly ascended the ranks, particularly following an impressive knockout win over Dillian Whyte, a former world title challenger.
Usyk last defended his titles with a knockout victory against Daniel Dubois in July and is not expected to return to the ring until 2026. In the meantime, Itauma’s profile continues to rise. His trainer, Ben Davison, encourages the young prospect to take on the challenge of Usyk, indicating that such a fight would be mutually beneficial.
“I would encourage it,” Davison commented when speaking to Sky Sports. “While Moses hasn’t faced anyone of Usyk’s caliber, I believe Usyk hasn’t encountered anyone like Moses either. It’s a risk worth taking.”
Itauma aims to step into the ring again before the year is out, but securing a formidable opponent has proven challenging. Veterans such as Jermaine Franklin or Filip Hrgovic have been mentioned, but they seem reluctant to engage.
“Those are the names you hear the most, yet they aren’t keen to fight,” Davison lamented. “It’s tough to attract opponents willing to face him unless they’re compensated significantly.”
If Usyk intends to remain undisputed, he must next defend his WBO title against the winner of the Joseph Parker versus Fabio Wardley matchup. However, there’s speculation that the world titles could soon become vacant, potentially paving the way for Itauma and Anthony Joshua—also under Davison’s guidance—to pursue titles in separate bouts next year.
“It’s certainly a possibility,” Davison noted, “depending on Usyk’s decisions regarding the belts. The heavyweight scene is incredibly dynamic right now.”
What’s clear is that Davison does not foresee a match between Itauma and Joshua. “There’s a deep mutual respect,” he said. “I don’t think it’s necessary.”