Moses Itauma bringing heavyweights back to young Mike Tyson days

Chris Algieri and Robert Garcia, hosts of ProBoxTV’s now “members only” BoxingScene Today show on YouTube, say they’re expecting London’s Moses Itauma to win his next two fights impressively and trigger a heavyweight renaissance akin to the glory days of a young Mike Tyson.

Ranked No. 3 by the IBF, 21-year-old Itauma, 14-0 (12 KOs), originally from Kezmarok, Slovakia, will face Zagreb, Croatia’s 34-year-old Filip Hrgovic, 20-1 (15 KOs), ranked No. 4 by the IBF, on Saturday, August 29, at the O2 Arena in London and live on DAZN PPV. 

Earlier this week, it was announced that the fight has been elevated to being for the IBF World heavyweight championship left vacant following Oleksandr Usyk's decision to relinquish three of his belts in June. As part of an agreement to step aside, the winner of Itauma-Hrgovic must face IBF No. 1-ranked Frank Sanchez by December.

“This (fight) has been elevated to be the vacant IBF heavyweight title, which puts Moses Itauma in a position to be the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson,” said Algieri. “I think he's only 21 years of age, so that's big right there."

“I want to see the beginning of a great world heavyweight champion,” replied Robert Garcia. “I want to see the beginning. They already said he has to fight Sanchez next. After that, those two fights will put him where the world wants to see him, a heavyweight that we've been missing, that goes out there explosive, knocks his opponents out… That type of heavyweight at 21? We want to see something like that. And I think boxing needs it. I think this is the beginning of history probably with this kid.

“I think Moses is the truth and I think he's the future of heavyweight division and we are probably going to be seeing the beginning of a future heavyweight run and the future of the sport,” added Algieri, “from his athleticism to his size. He's a new-age heavyweight. He's a super heavyweight, but he's so athletic as well. He's got that lead southpaw stance, he's got that movement. He has everything. His movement, his lead hand where he sets things up, and he has genuine, genuine power. He's something special.”

Renowned trainer Garcia says that Itauma, a 7-1 favorite to defeat Hrgovic, represents the whole package as a modern heavyweight with all the skills and talent to rule for years to come.

“What I love about Moses is that he also knows how to combine body shots with head shots and uppercuts. He knows how to do those angles when it's necessary. And just little short steps, not even hard angles, just little short steps forward that he knows how to work with make him a solid fighter, make him a complete fighter.”