Australian heavyweight prospect Teremoana Jnr has heard all of the praise being heaped on Moses Itauma, his counterpart from England.
Itauma raced to 13-0 (11 KOs) with a crushing first-round knockout of Dillian Whyte on August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and it was respected trainer and former middleweight contender Andy Lee who touted a possible future fight, years from now, between Itauma and the Australian.
Teremoana saw all of the positive press Itauma received for the Whyte win, and he saw those dubbing Itauma the heir apparent to Usyk’s throne.
“That’s what social media and that have all been saying,” Teremoana told BoxingScene. “Yeah, he had a good win the other week against Dillian Whyte, so props to him. He looks good, but you know, that’s just the thing with these two young guys coming up now, and come a few years, we’ll definitely share the ring together.”
Teremoana had seen the clip of Lee prophesying the two possibly meeting years from now. It echoed back to that clip of Lee’s old trainer, Emanuel Steward, tipping Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder to run the show at heavyweight years before they became champions.
“I did see that,” said the 27-year-old Teremoana. “Thanks to Andy Lee for recognizing I’ve got a bit of talent. I just trust that my performances will speak for themselves. And now I’m looking forward to that. That’s an awesome fight, me and Moses, but we’re still working our way up. I believe we’ll be fighting for a world title if we do fight. And then, yeah, we’ll just have to see how things go.”
While one generation of heavyweights appears to be coming to an end, with Anthony Joshua, Fury and world champion Usyk all nearing the end, Teremoana – along with Itauma, Richard Torrez Jnr and, despite being older, Bakhodir Jalolov – are coming through as the new breed.
“It’s exciting times for the heavyweight division, and I just can’t wait to prove I’m the best,” Teremoana said.
But Teremoana, who boxed at the Paris Olympics (losing to Jalolov by decision in the quarterfinals), is 8-0 with eight knockouts and he is not in a rush. He had four pro fights before returning to the amateurs for the Olympics, and after returning and signing with Matchroom Promotions, he is 4-0 with four first-round knockouts.
He knows, however, that timing plays a part in matchmaking a prospect.
“They were saying Jared Anderson was meant to be the next greatest thing, the future of the heavyweights,” Teremoana said, discussing the American hope who has not been the same since he was moved into a fight with Martin Bakole. “So they’re just saying the next thing … they’re saying it now about Moses. It’s just the phase, to be honest.
“I believe I’ve got the goods to [win big fights] now, but yes, I could probably win. But do I have those rounds and experience to be fighting these guys who’ve been doing it for so many years? I haven’t even been taken into deep waters. I haven’t really been tested at all. So in regards to that, I’ve just got to get the rounds under me; got to keep on building my experience one at a time, and that’s the plan. Because if you look at Jared Anderson, he probably took that fight a little bit too early, in my opinion. Bakole was big and strong. He just didn't know how to work him out. But that’s the game. He got paid, so I’m sure he’s happy.”
Of course, Usyk stands above everyone in the current era, and Teremoana is not short on admiration for the Ukrainian star.
“I think Usyk’s technically the best fighter in the division at the moment and I really, really like his style and how he just composes himself and just gets in the ring, gets the job done,” Teremoana continued. “I plan to do the same. For me, when you talk about all-time greats, yeah, I think he’s up there to be ranked with them. The reason why I think Muhammad Ali is ‘The Greatest’ is because of what he’s done outside the ring as well, not just inside-the-ring skills. It’s the overall picture. But talking about boxing alone, yeah, I believe Usyk’s up there with the best in the world as one of the greatest of all time.”
There is a chance that Lee’s prophecy is correct. There is a chance that, years from now, Itauma and Teremoana meet in an absolute blockbuster, and that is something Teremoana can envisage.
“I think that’ll be the plan, because now it’s looking good,” he added.
“I’m happy with where I am at the moment. You know, we’re still starting. We’re only just starting out.
“Four and 0, in my mind [post-Olympics], but we are 8-0 and we’ll just keep going.”
Given that they could be future rivals, Teremoana was also generous with his praise of Itauma, who is still just 20 years old.
“I’m impressed with what he’s done,” said Teremoana. “He’s got a good record. He fights well. He’s fast. He’s strong. He’s got the goods. He’s got the good boxing IQ and stuff. He’s definitely a good fighter.
“It’s so exciting, because all those guys [Itauma, Torrez, Jalalov], I’d love to fight them all. “And I’m sure, in time, we will because you’ve got a bit of talent in this next generation.
“But I plan to be the best of the generation.”
Tris Dixon covered his first amateur boxing fight in 1996. The former editor of Boxing News, he has written for a number of international publications and newspapers, including GQ and Men’s Health, and is a board member for the Ringside Charitable Trust and the Ring of Brotherhood. He has been a broadcaster for TNT Sports and hosts the popular “Boxing Life Stories” podcast. Dixon is a British Boxing Hall of Famer, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, is on The Ring ratings panel and is the author of five boxing books, including “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (shortlisted for the William Hill Sportsbook of the Year), “Warrior: A Champion’s Search for His Identity” (shortlisted for the Sunday Times International Sportsbook of the Year) and “The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands.” You can reach him @trisdixon on X and Instagram.
