Teddy Atlas believes one man is getting knocked out if Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma were to share the ring now.
Once upon a time, it was former two-time heavyweight world champion Joshua who was knocking out everyone he faced. His early career run was a spectacular one that included stoppage wins over the likes of Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko, Charles Martin and Kubrat Pulev.
He was then derailed by a KO loss of his own to Andy Ruiz, and late took back-to-back points losses to Oleksandr Usyk. Most recently, he was stopped by Daniel Dubois last September and is now looking to choose his comeback opponent wisely.
In the meantime, Itauma has emerged as a new star of the division. He’s just 20 years old and has 11 stoppages from 13 wins, with his most recent victim being Whyte inside the first round back in August.
Speaking to Grosvenor Casinos, legendary coach Atlas has weighed up how a fight between the two would go, and believes the younger man would stop for the former two-time heavyweight champion.
“I think Itauma knocks out Joshua, probably. Take nothing away from Joshua. There’s danger with the right hand, he can punch, he’s big, he’s experienced, all of that. He might be desperate now, Joshua, to get a win, to reclaim obviously things he’s lost; status, pride, whatever. I understand that can make him dangerous in those areas. I understand all of it. It’s my job to understand it as a trainer. But I believe the quick answer is yes, Itauma is ready for him and beyond.”
Itauma is expected back in the ring in December with Filip Hrgovic leading the list of potential opponents.
