This content is protected I think not, especially when you consider how active/inactive Itauma has been in his 3 years as a pro
Only so far as his promise at such a young age and his athletics gifts and knockouts They don't really fight anything alike or have similar builds
Not at all. Tyson had 28 fights in under 2 years going 10 rounds 3 times whilst winning a belt. Tyson had atleast been extended the distance and had been tested by the likes of James Tillis, Mitch Green, Jose Ribalta, before fighting for a world title. Itauma realistically hasn't fought 1 live body prior to Hrgovic apart from maybe Franklin who's a borderline top 20 Heavyweight I guess. And he's never gone past 6 rounds either. There will never be a young Heavyweight as active or as stand out as Tyson it's different times and Heavyweights IMO are too big now. Tyson had so many attributes that were better than Itauma. More athletic, better combination puncher, faster, harder pucher, better defence, better footwork.
I think so. The kid was KOing some very decent fighters for fun. I think his career just hasn’t been managed well. He probably needed another few fights at around Franklin level and learned how to go 10-12 rounds with a less dangerous opponent. He’s now hopefully learned that lesson the hard way. Time to hit the gym and work on that cardio and 12 round sparring
They weren't. Tyson was a different calibre of athlete. The talent pool before the 2000s was deep. Knocking out fellow zoomers in the gym doesn't = the next Tyson. Also Tyson started boxing at like 14-15. Hasn't Moses been doing this since childhood? Way different natural talent level.
I think the main comparison was if he could beat Tyson record as the youngest heavyweight champ. With the low number of fights that he was fighting and the timespan between fights it was always unlikely but theoretically, if I have the timeline correct, he could have been matched up with Daniel Dubios when Dubios was upgraded to champion by the IBF around the middle of 2024. Itauma wasn’t in their top 10 at that time but with Frank Warren in control of both fighters, it’s not inconceivable that Warren could have pulled some strings with the IBF (paid them off) and made the Dubios/ Itauma matchup in early 2025 and Itauma would have beaten Tyson’s record if he was successful against Dubois though certainly not a given.
On a surface level, sure. Speed, power, youth, early knockouts. Digger deeper, no. Tyson came from some of the worst conditions, stayed super active, trained like his life depended on it (because it did), dedicated himself like a monk under an ATG trainer, and had more refined skills, technique, defensive ability, etc. And a much better chin and the ability to go 12 rounds. There will never be another Mike Tyson. He was once in a lifetime.
Absolutely. Tyson = talented at a young age with an unprecedented combination of aggression, technical ability, hand speed and punching power. Itauma = talented at a young age with an unprecedented combination aggression, technical ability, hand speed and punching power. We've not seen a heavyweight or Cruiserweight with the combination of those traits in excess since Tyson and until Moses. The fact he's not as good as Tyson was at this point doesn't make those comparisons unwarranted. This is especially true if he goes onto do a Louis / Klitschko and go undefeated for a years after this loss embarrassing upset loss lol. Time will tell.
No, not justified at all. Young Tyson was a superiorly-schooled fighter who was more than just a puncher. His defense and footwork were also excellent and he had a fluidity that Itauma will never have. I'd compare Itauma to guys like Wilder or DuBois. That caliber of talent looks invincible at a certain level but once you put them in with someone who can take a punch all of the flaws come out. When Tyson wasn't able to take out opponents like Tillis, Green or Bonecrusher, he still had the skill and stamina to beat them with his boxing. Itauma seems like a decent guy but he was never going to be the next Tyson.
