Usyk by schooling. Probably late stoppage or UD. I’d lean towards late stoppage. There are levels to this. You don’t just throw a rookie in with boxings Final Boss
There is genuine galaxies between journeymen in McKean and one of the best boxers to ever do it in Usyk. Give Itauma some serious fights first such as Whyte, Chisora, Dubois in the future then only maybe we can talk, comparing Itauma to Usyk ATM is utterly disrespectful towards the elder statesmen of the sport.
Not enough info on itauma. I expect at this stage Usyk would dominate. In a year or two Usyk would be near or at 40 and Itauma would be more mature. Still favor Usyk until Itauma gives me a reason to think otherwise Usyk is in a class of his own right now
A year and a half ago people were doing this with Jared Anderson saying he'd swarm Usyk. Gotta give prospects time before we devote thought to how they'd do against the champ.
There is only one 20 year old in history I would throw in with usyk now and it isn't Moses He isn't close to being ready
I like Itauma, but you are doing him a disservice invoking fights he is far than ready for. We haven't seen his chin, gas tank or heart tested, and it will be years and multiple tests until he is ready for someone of Usyk's calibre (if he is ever ready for someone of Usyk's calibre).
I'm not sold on Itauma. He's looked good, but against the kind of opponents he's faced, anyone half decent should look pretty good. I think even an aged Usyk at like 39/40 would still handle Itauma without much of an issue.
I also feel like Itauma is going to be a bit of a flash in the pan. Remember when Joyce was made out to be indestructible and the future of the HW division. I feel like he's going to be on the same trajectory honestly. I'm just not sold. But he is super young so anything can happen.
this. He’s showing great promise, but come on now, throw him in against the best of the era? Not quite the best comparison, but I do remember when an overeager trainer thought it was a good idea to send his promising inexperienced prospect in against the best of the era. I believe the year was 1983. Didn’t go well.
Pricey is always a classic warning... A fighter can look like they're going a long way, but you just don't know they're packing glass and limited until they step up enough to show it. Itauma looks talented, but he still has everything to prove before being considered a likely future champ (possible yes - likely? not yet) let alone being put in a theoretical matchup with possibly the only legit ATG of the era.