A Rising Storm at Heavyweight

By Derek Williams

In the aftermath of Moses Itauma’s demolition job on Dillian Whyte, I find myself replaying the fight in my mind, and the more I do, the more convinced I become that Itauma is not just a prospect, but a genuine threat to any heavyweight in the world today.

This wasn’t a lucky punch or a sloppy mismatch. This was clinical. Calculated. Cold. Itauma approached the fight with a laser focus, and every shot he threw had purpose. There was no wasted movement, no hesitation — just a young fighter operating at a frighteningly high level of precision.

We often hear whispers in boxing — and yes, the word is that Whyte may have been carrying an injury going into the fight. But let’s be honest: injury or not, it wouldn’t have made a difference on the night. Whyte was overwhelmed from the first bell. Itauma didn’t just beat him, he obliterated him.

Smart fighters will now start to do what they always do when a new danger emerges: look for ways to smother his work, spoil his rhythm, and take away his strengths. But what makes Itauma, so intriguing is that he is already aware of this. You can see it in his poise. He is not just swinging, he is thinking. Every movement is measured. He does not fight like a 19-year-old. He fights like a man who has been here before.

And then there is the aura.

Some fighters just have it. That intangible presence that unnerves opponents before the first punch is thrown. Itauma walks to the ring with that same quiet menace we once saw in a young Mike Tyson. He is not just fighting opponents; he is intimidating them. And like Tyson in his prime, he is making seasoned pros look ordinary.

The comparisons to Tyson are inevitable, and in this case, not exaggerated. But here is where caution comes in. As good as Itauma is and he is very good I would not rush him into a fight with someone like Oleksandr Usyk just yet. That is not doubt, that is development. There is a difference.

He needs three or four more fights. Not easy fights, real tests. Fighters who can take him rounds. Fighters who can make him think under pressure. The talent is there. The temperament is there. Now it is about smart matchmaking and gradual escalation. One thing is already certain: Moses Itauma has captured the imagination of the fans. He is not just a rising star, he is a fan favourite. And if he continues this trajectory, it won’t be long before he is more than just a threat. He will be the man.