Former world champion Barry McGuigan wants to see heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma continue to step up the level.
Itauma has done everything right so far. The 20-year-old has beaten every man put in front of him, and in impressive fashion, with 11 KO wins from his 13 bouts. A whole raft of them have come early, too, not least his two-minute demolition of former world title challenger Dillian Whyte last time out back in November.
Next up, this month, he takes on American Jermaine Franklin, who has proven his toughness on these shores by going the distance with both Anthony Joshua and Whyte in the past. Some think he will be a tough test for Itauma and that he will be able to withstand the power that so many of his previous opponents have not.
Writing in his column for The Mirror late last year, McGuigan named the opponents he wants to see Itauma tested against in the near future, including one avoided German heavyweight.
“I would match Itauma with someone like Martin Bakole or Zhilei Zhang, or even an Agit Kabayel. That would be a brilliant matchup, two undefeated prospects going at it, and in Itauma’s case, learning what championship boxing is all about.”
Kabayel, who is now 33 years old, has won all 26 of his bouts so far, with 18 coming by way of knockout and including some impressive names such as Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez and Zhilei Zhang.
He is next out on January 10 when he defends his interim WBC heavyweight title against Damian Knyba. Kabayel keeps himself in pole position with a win, and a potential world title soon after should Oleksandr Usyk opt to vacate the belt.
