David Haye was a two-weight world champion but has admitted that even at his best, he would have avoided one current heavyweight.
Haye had fast hands and explosive power during a decorated career. He rose to the very top of the cruiserweight division to become unified cruiserweight world champion in 2008 when he won three of the four major titles as well as lineal honours.
Then Haye moved up to heavyweight and defeated the towering Nikolai Valuev to make him one of only three boxers in history to have unified at cruiserweight then pick up a strap at heavyweight.
Despite those skills, speaking to BoxNation, Haye admitted he is so impressed with what he has seen from young Moses Itauma that he would avoid him at all costs were he still fighting.
“I wouldn’t want that at any stage of my career.”
He then explained why and compared him to an all-time great.
“I’m watching him and I’m like, I don’t like that. I could have matched him for speed but you’ve got to remember he seems as fast as I was, but he’s a stone and a half, two stone taller, bigger, tougher, he’s like a bigger version of me, but just as fast.
“He kind of reminds me of Lennox Lewis. He’s got that natural size and strength. He’s not bulked up, that’s just him natural. He’s 20-years-old, he hasn’t fully matured yet, he’s going to get bigger and faster and stronger and more resilient.”
Itauma has proven himself to be a big puncher with 11 KO wins from 13 fights, including nine inside the first two rounds and last time out, he destroyed Dillian Whyte within two minutes.
He announced he was ready for Oleksandr Usyk next, but has instead been linked with Filip Hrgovic, though there are suggestions Hrgovic has priced himself out and so Charles Martin has now called him out.
