It’s hard to argue that Oleksandr Usyk is the current best heavyweight on the planet.
Usyk stepped up from cruiserweight, where he captured all four major titles, and within just six years repeated the feat in boxing’s blue-ribbon division.
The Ukrainian became the first ever undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis nearly 25 years ago, and the first ever in the four belt era, when he inflicted Tyson Fury’s first ever career defeat in May. In what was an enthralling back and forth encounter where both men had success, Usyk was close to stopping ‘The Gypsy King’ in the ninth round but eventually one a split decision on the scorecards.
Although the two are set to do it all again on December in Saudi Arabia, at ages of 37 and 35 fans are looking to who may fill their place when they retire and Usyk believes he knows who that will be.
Highly rated 19 year old prospect, Moses Itauma, was back in action this weekend when he faced veteran heavyweight Mariusz Wach. The 44 year old had shared the ring with the likes of Frazer Clarke, Dillian Whyte and Wladimir Klitschko, none of which had managed to stop the Polish fighter.
Itauma had no such issues, dropping his man early and getting the stoppage in the second round after a display of blistering hand speed and power.
Speaking at a media scrum after the fight Itauma’s promoter Frank Warren was full of praise for the teenage sensation.
“It was a fight where I was hoping we would get some rounds because I feel like he needs to get some rounds under his belt and you look at Wach, he’s been the gate keeper for the heavyweights coming through the ranks, Frazer Clarke, Hughie Fury, Dillian Whyte and all the older ones going back over the years an none of them stopped him. Moses is 19, he’s a teenager and the way he dealt with it was unbelievable.”
Warren the shares Usyk’s and his promoter Alex Krassyuk’s reaction to the performance, who were sat ringside for the action.
“Alex Krassyuk and Usyk were both sitting there and both of them said at the same time ‘this is the future of the heavyweight division'”.
