Itauma vs Usyk

He can reign for the next 10 years regardless, may as well try and take Usyk's scalp while he can as it's the only chance.

 

A Win/Win fight for Itauma. Defeat at 20 years of age to a GOAT is only going to give him invaluable rounds and experience whereas an unexpected underdog victory propels him to Mike Tyson levels of superstardom.

For Usyk, a win over the brightest young star of boxing and a potential future great champion seals an already outstanding ATG career and leaves him as an untouchable. It’s also the only fight that pays Usyk a king’s ransom other than an unnecessary and unwanted trilogy with either Fury or AJ at Wembley.

 

I'd like him to fight Usyk as there may not be another chance in Itauma's career to fight an all time great. Fighters like Usyk don't come around often.

However, I would leave it 12 months. Usyk seems to be sticking around for a fight or two, so let him have them fights and Itauma could get in 2-3 fights against solid opposition in the meantime.

Itauma looks quality skill wise, and he seems a physical freak, but we have no idea what his chin, stamina, heart, mental strength, and ability to adapt is like as he hasn't had them tested thus far. You don't want to find out what levels of those aforementioned attributes you have all at the same time against an ATG like Usyk, because he will definitely test them all.

Itauma has literally been allowed to do what he wants in the ring due to his poor level of opposition so far. Fighters just back up to ropes, cover up, and let him unload on them. Let's see how he handles someone who will throw back, someone who can counter, someone who won't just back up to the ropes willingly, and someone who if backed up to the ropes, knows how to get off the ropes.

12 months from now, Itauma will be better (assuming he passes the tests) and Usyk will be weaker. It only favours Itauma to put the fight off as long as possible. Obviously, Usyk may retire, but Turki seems to really want a fight between these two, so I imagine he will offer Usyk crazy money for one last fight.

Many people have suggested Hrgovic as an ideal opponent. He is, but the timing may be off. Itauma really needs to be back out soon as he didn't even take a punch against Whyte. If he fights Hrgovic next, he will need to wait for Hrgovic's cut to heal. That could be some time away.

Miller would be a good test and could possibly fight soon. He is in training camp for a fight against Hunter in September. Don King is trying stop the fight. Even if he can't, if I was Warren or Turki, I'd be offering Hunter some money to step aside and let Itauma face Miller sometime in October, November at the latest. Miller has a decent work rate early doors, and decent chin. He would be a step up for Itauma, and could possibly test Itauma's stamina and chin without being too much of a risk. Miller would certainly bring the fight to Itauma and wouldn't just shell up.

If Itauma is asked a few questions against Miller and passes them, then he can go for a Hrgovic fight, or even someone better at world level (Parker, Kabayel, Dubois, etc).

 

No, mate, I wouldn't. Not yet, anyway, until Itauma has answered some questions about his chin, stamina, heart, mental strength, and ability to adapt.

Let's say Itauma is lacking in some of these abilities. This, coupled with his massive inexperience will see him get beat easily by Usyk and what for? Would this add to Usyk's legacy; beating up a massively inexperienced chinny / hamster lunged / mentally weak fighter. Usyk is an ATG with not many fights left. If Itauma isn't as good as advertised, I don't want to see what little we have left of Usyk in a glorified sparring session against a massively overmatched opponent.

That's why I said to leave it a couple of fights. Usyk will still be world class as he lives the life, so he will probably slowly degrade like Hopkins, rather than age overnight. If Itauma can answer a few unanswered questions in the meantime, and improve more, then Itauma v Usyk will truly be an elite fight.

Itauma will always be inexperienced compared to Usyk, but if you leave it 12 months, maybe the experience Itauma will gain in that time, and the slight degradation of Usyk will make the fight more competitive for Itauma, and possibly swing it in his favour.

 

You also thought Dubois was going to spark out Usyk, at this point it just looks like you have an issue with Usyk.

To suggest a 20 year old unproven novice can test a generational talent like Usyk is ridiculous.

 

Itauma may give Usyk a very good test. He certainly has the skills, speed, and power to.

Unfortunately, those other attributes I mentioned earlier (chin, stamina, heart, mental strength, ability to adapt), we have no idea what levels Itauma has of these. These attributes are vitaly important for a fighter, especially if they want to succeed at the top level.

Until these are tested, no one knows for sure how Itauma will perform at the top level. Add in his inexperience of fighting someone who actually fights back effectively, then any prediction on Itauma's future is merely speculation and wishful thinking.

Boxing is littered with skillful fighters, hard hitting fighters, and blazing quick fighters who, ultimately, failed at the very top level due to a weak chin, poor engine, being mentally weak, being unable to adapt, etc.

There is a reason why in sport, not just boxing, people aren't just thrown into the lions den early doors. Itauma facing Usyk next is like being a non league football team and then expecting to play and beat Real Madrid in your next game.

If Usyk says "I have one fight left", then, yes, I can see maybe taking the risk. But, he hasn't, and money talks, and Turki has lots, so I think it is worth the risk for Itauma to leave it a fight or two, get more experience, and then face Usyk for silly money. It's really in Itauma's best interests.

 

You keep saying Itauma is better than these other fighters, but you can't possibly know that. Boxing isn't just about power, speed and skills. Yes, they are important, but those other intangible attributes I have mentioned are equally as important. You can't possibly know if Itauma has them as he hasn't had those attributes tested.

What happens if Itauma has David Price's chin and stamina, Joshua's poor recovery, Dubois' lack of ring IQ and love of taking a knee, Joyce's inability to adapt?

As for Itauma sparring top heavyweights; that helps, and will be why he is at this level at such a young age, but sparring isn't a real fight, and it is a million miles away from fighting an ATG like Usyk.

As I've said, there's a good chance the Usyk fight will be there in 12 months time. Turki wants the fight, and he posses the type of money that can easily sway someone.

 

The divisions wide open for itauma tbh. A lot of guys on the downward turn and not many great prospects coming through.

People still getting carried away atm. He,ll get to the top imo but talk of him blitzing parker in a couple of rounds or beating usyk massively premature.

At this stage his opponents so far are massively outgunned. The guys in the top ten arent great but he wont outgun them the same way hes outgunned his opponents so far. Parker will beat him if they fight next. Usyk will beat him. Fury would beat him. Dubois and joshua would probably beat him imo.

Hes a 20 year old thats a top talent who looks like he can go all the way especially that theres a clear path infront of him.

But someone thats 20 who,s had 24 amatuer fights and 12 pro fights most of them gimmes trained by ben davidson isnt going to walk through the division at 20 years old.

Talking about fighting franklin next. Good sensible fight imo. Franklins been softened up a bit after fighting joshua and whyte.

 

Good post.

The Ben Davison comment is a worry for me. The thought of Davison training the top HW prospect in the world should worry everyone.

Davison has his qualities, but he is not good enough for a young fighter like Itauma, in my opinion.

Shane mcguigan would be perfect for Itauma. Possibly, Andy Lee.

Itauma is a young, inexperienced fighter who has had everything go his way so far. Eventually, he will be tested and he will need a wise head in his corner. Davison has never proved that he is able to adapt mid fight. His corner work in between rounds has always seemed lacking to me.

 

Agreed. Like all of them davidson has his strengths and weaknesses. I dont think hes a terrible fit for moses overall. Seems pretty good at keeping his fighters motivated with boxing which is a big plus. Hes pretty meticulous in his preparation etc and will put the required time in needed etc.

Agree tho his corner work and mid fight adjustments arent quite good enough to have the top heavyweight prospect thats aiming to smash the division in quick time anyway.

Almost feels like they need someone overseeing it all. Davidsons gathered a decent bit of experience so far but its still probably not enough if the aim is too smash up the division.

A lot of the time he seems to get an idea in his head and runs with it with a 100 per cent certainty....more backed by blind belief rather than experience or genuine know how.

Mcguigan would be good as would andy lee. But both probably have their weaknesses as a fit for moses. Mcguigan a much better reader of a fight than davidson but considering i,ve heard moses talk of once being a bit fed up with boxing shaynes relentless fitness work could be a stumbling block and andy lees laid back approach might be a bit too laid back for moses who seems a bit laid back himself.

Probably be happy enough with davidson in charge if its a slowish run to the top. But if the plan is too smash their way there....agreed his corner work and mid fight adjustments will get them in trouble at this point.

I think the way moses is

 

Those insults are so childish it doesn't warrant a genuine response.

We all want to see Ituma do well, we don't want to see him get embarrassed by a legend at this stage of his career. He needs to learn more and progress first.

 

On the flipside you could ruin his career by putting him in too deep against Usyk too soon.

And seeing as how it looks like Itauma's next fight is going to be against Franklin his team also thinks he needs more development.