While many people give Moses Itauma a good chance against Oleksandr Usyk, former world champion David Haye thinks there is one other man capable of stepping up and handing the Ukraine great his first ever defeat.
Usyk has been imperious throughout his career. His time in the amateur ranks ended with him winning a gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012, and since then he has continued to improve and pick up accolades.
He unified the cruiserweight division back in 2016 and then moved up to heavyweight, where he has done the same. Along the way, he bested Antony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois, twice each, which made him history’s first-ever two-time undisputed heavyweight ruler in the four-belt era.
Now edging towards 40 and with just a couple of fights left, there is a real possibility he retires undefeated, but Haye has named who he feels could stop that from happening.
Speaking to The Ring, Haye claimed that the one man who might be able to beat Usyk isn’t rising star Itauma, but is instead Australian cruiserweight Jai Opetaia.
“I think he can be the fourth guy to be cruiserweight champ and the heavyweight champ. I think he’s got the capabilities to do that. I didn’t think there’d be another one after Usyk, but I’m watching him and thinking he’ll be a problem for anyone.
“He would give Usyk a tougher fight than everyone else, really, I think he knows that as well. I would have won obviously, but I would have had to have been on my very best day. I really respect him.”
Opetaia is currently the IBF Champion but he fights at home against Huseyin Cinkara in December in his first unification fight. He has spoken before about being keen on one day moving up to challenge Usyk.
