Belatedly caught up with the DAZN replay of the McCormack vs. Parra card... and wow does this 18-year-old Leo Atang look promising. He demolished an admittedly past-his-prime journeyman Cristian Uwaka but his speed and precision reminded me of Itauma and, sure enuff, I'm not the only one making comparisons: https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/leo-atang-dismisses-early-talk-of-itauma-clash/295751 Anyway, if both fighters progress in their careers without major hiccups, I could see an interesting showdown within three years or so ....
I am very much strongly against hyping up those in Leo Atang who haven't proven anything, let alone someone who has just beaten a washed up part-timer. Hype jobs shouldn't be bought, ever. Lets exercise caution here. Whereas, Itauma has actually proven something in beating Whyte that quickly even if he still has questions to be asked of.
Leo atang is a KO waiting to happen. It's extremely unlikely he is talented enough to beat top contenders in his early 20s. He is being marketed as the new aj, he's definitely getting knocked out soon
Why is it extremely unlikely? This next crop of heavyweights are mostly dog**** apart from Itauma. Atang had an amateur career that was equal to Itauma's, and he's knocked out both journeyman he's fought in his first two fights; he's three years younger, too. There's a long way to go, but Atang is an elite prospect.
The next crop of heavyweights are better than the current generation apart from Usyk and Fury. Do you see how easily Dubois ran through Miller, Hrgovic and Joshua ? Well Dubois is about to be irrelevant in 4 or 5 years because the talent pool is going to double. Not only will the younger athletes come through, but the backlogged division will finally get their chance at the top level. Kabayel was one of the forsaken contenders and more will arrive soon
Are we talking evolution theory or in terms of actual talent? Dubois headbutted Hrgovic to death, and Joshua was absolutely finished. I'm not including him in that crop anyway. Dubois will probably retire soon after the AJ and Usyk paydays. Outside of Itauma, maybe Teremoana, Atang, and a couple of half-decent EE amateurs, I don't see how this next generation will be better than the current crop. What names are you thinking of?
Dubois isn't going to dissappear by retiring, he's going to get weeded out by the better talent thats rolling through. Kabayel, Itauma, Teremoana, Torrez, Surov, Jalolov, Huni, Opetaia, Okolie, Tiafack, Mullojonov, Lenzi, Oralbay, Edwards, Zokirov, Hovhannisyan. And then you have fringe contenders like Ajagba, Sanchez, Wardley, Bakole who are reasonably capable of causing an upset against top ranked contenders
He's athletic, fast, moves well, he is pretty quick and so far his power looks decent, he isnt as developed as Itauma was at the same stage but he is a talent at 18. I think Matchroom will move him slower than Itauma.
You literally thought Whyte would beat Itauma or had a chance. You don't know anything. However Atang is nowhere near Itauma level and Hearn knows it.
Obviously I'd back the more proven fighter rather than someone who had fought journeymen at best. I also suspected Whyte wasn't as past it as people said he was. Nevertheless it was a great win for Itauma, and he has proven himself as a result and is basically flirting with fringe contender status now. Atang? Unlike Itauma who has actually beaten a good fighter in Whyte, what has Atang done? Lets exercise caution here before we compare fighters who are literally barely just 2-0, with other fighters that are already possibly fringe contenders.
I don't think anyone's pushing to get an Atang-Itauma showdown anytime soon.... I'm certainly not. Like I said in my thread opener, if both fighters -- and their trainers & managers -- play their cards right... I could envision one within three or so years. I was just remarking on how impressive the kid looked the other day. Not (yet) saying he (nor Itauma for that matter) is Iron Mike 2.0.