Moses Itauma is grateful for Oleksandr Usyk’s reward, however would nonetheless wish to battle the unified heavyweight world champion.
Itauma is just 20 years previous however has so impressed in his fast rise by way of the ranks that even Usyk has recognized the Briton as a possible successor as a future heavyweight world champion.
“Once I hear one thing like that, usually I push it to the facet,” Itauma advised Sky Sports activities. “It does me no favours if I hearken to it, so I type of have to dam it out.
“However when he says one thing like that, that basically caught my consideration, solely as a result of he has executed completely the whole lot you’ll be able to on this sport.
“About to do it 3 times over if he will get the battle with Daniel [Dubois for the undisputed crown]. So for him to say that could be very huge and I respect Usyk and I am positively a fan of his. However him saying that, that is huge. That really means one thing.
“As a result of he is aware of. He is aware of the expertise. It takes expertise to see expertise and I feel he is aware of.”
Talking to Sky Sports activities at Park Chinois, Itauma added: “I am not doing it for Usyk’s reward. I am doing it for myself and my household.
“However on the identical time, I positively respect that. I have to go and show that proper now. That is placing huge pressures on my shoulders.”
Itauma has excessive expectations of himself. After blazing by way of Demsey McKean inside the primary spherical in his final contest, the rising star believes he’s two fights – “two correct fights” – away from boxing for a world title himself.
Usyk has beforehand advised Sky Sports activities that he expects to solely field twice extra in his profession. It means he’s unlikely to cross paths with Itauma straight.
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Might we now have been witnessing a future heavyweight champion in Itauma after his emphatic first-round stoppage win over McKean?
The younger Briton thinks Usyk will battle IBF titlist Daniel Dubois after which Joseph Parker. “However I would like it to be Dubois and me. That may be good,” Itauma mentioned.
“Simply to say that I’ve shared the ring with him could be good. As a result of I’ve shared the ring with Dubois [in sparring], I’ve shared the ring with [Anthony] Joshua, I’ve shared the ring with [Martin] Bakole, [Joe] Joyce, Tyson [Fury]. The one individual I have not is Usyk, so that may be good to share the ring with him – whether or not it is sparring or combating.”
