At 20, Anthony Joshua was still competing in domestic amateur circuits, and Tyson Fury was preparing for his first professional fight. Meanwhile, Itauma has just sent shockwaves through the boxing world by knocking out Dillian Whyte, a former world title contender and British boxing icon, in under two minutes in Saudi Arabia.

Moses Itauma (right) throws a punch at Dillian Whyte during their heavyweight bout at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 16/8/2025. Photo: Reuters

With only 13 professional fights under his belt, Itauma is already knocking on the door of a world title shot. Mike Tyson holds the record as the youngest heavyweight champion in history, achieving the feat at 20 years and 145 days old in 1986. Itauma is currently 87 days older than that mark, but he could still surpass Floyd Patterson to become the second youngest champion of all time.

Patterson held the record for youngest world heavyweight champion on 30/11/1956, when he defeated Archie Moore for the title at 21 years and 334 days old. This record stood for 30 years before Tyson broke it.

While Whyte is past his prime at 37 and has struggled with stamina and a doping ban, he remains a formidable opponent. He boasts victories over Alexander Povetkin and Joseph Parker, both former world title challengers. Itauma's swift knockout of such a high-caliber opponent demonstrates exceptional power and composure.

Moses Itauma knocks out Dillian Whyte.

Renowned promoter Frank Warren, who has guided the careers of boxing stars like Naseem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe, Amir Khan, and Tyson Fury, said, "I've never seen such young talent. Tyson was a phenomenon, but the opponents Moses is facing now are tougher than those Tyson faced early in his career. I've never seen anyone so young, focused, humble, and professional. These qualities are the foundation for Moses to become a legend,".

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who invited Itauma to his training camp for his fight against Usyk, also praised the young boxer. Fury even predicted that Itauma could defeat current undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (38), as well as other top heavyweight contenders, due to his youth.

"Itauma will sweep away the remaining 'old men' in heavyweight boxing: Usyk, Anthony Joshua, Jarrell Miller, Luis Ortiz… everyone," Fury wrote on Instagram. "A young person won't lose to an old person. I see Moses beating Usyk, simply because it's a fight between a young man and an old man. This is a young man's game. And Itauma is the future,".

Turki Al-Sheikh, head of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, hinted at a potential Itauma-Usyk showdown. The 20-year-old boxer himself expressed interest in challenging the undisputed champion after his victory over Whyte. However, Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel are theoretically next in line for a title shot.

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates after defeating Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era - WBA, IBF, WBC, and WBO. Photo: Reuters

Warren is also aware of the risks of rushing Itauma into a title fight too soon. So far, he has only fought past two rounds twice. To further develop, Itauma needs to test himself against high-level contenders who are not yet champions. Names like Jermaine Franklin, Filip Hrgovic, Andy Ruiz Jr., and Martin Bakole are being considered as suitable opponents to help Itauma elevate his skills and serve as a stepping stone before reaching the pinnacle of the sport.

Born in a small village in Slovakia, Itauma moved to England at the age of 4. Growing up in Chatham, a notoriously challenging area, he has maintained a modest lifestyle. Frequently returning to his birthplace, Itauma said, "I don't need the spotlight, I just need a ring to train and compete. Boxing keeps me balanced,".

At 20, Itauma already has an impressive record. As an amateur, he was undefeated in 24 bouts, with 11 wins by knockout. He won gold medals at the Schools, national and international Juniors, Youth European Championships, and the Heavyweight Youth World Championships.

Itauma celebrates with promoter Frank Warren. Photo: Reuters

Since turning professional in 2023, Itauma has maintained a perfect record of 13 wins, including 11 knockouts. Experts praise his speed, power, versatile technique, and ability to read opponents and exploit their weaknesses. He is considered one of Britain's most promising boxing talents since Anthony Joshua.

With the backing of prominent figures like Frank Warren, Tyson Fury, and Saudi Arabian investors, Itauma is poised to become the next dominant force in the world of heavyweight boxing.

Hong Duy (via The Times)