Moses Itauma’s chances of taking Mike Tyson’s record as boxing’s youngest ever heavyweight world champion appear to be over.
Itauma is considered one of the brightest young prospects in the blue-riband division, with his ferocious punching power and unique skills attracting the attention of the boxing world.
When setting out as a professional, he faced huge comparisons to heavyweight legend and former undisputed champion Tyson, for his front-thinking style.
Before his professional debut in January 2023 aged 19, Itauma had vowed to fight in pursuit of beating Tyson’s record as the youngest world heavyweight champion in the sport’s history.
‘Iron Mike’ captured the feat with a stunning win over Trevor Berbick in 1986, winning the WBC belt at the age of 20 years and four months old.
Itauma recently turned 20 on December 28, giving him until the end of April to break Tyson’s record and get his hands on a world title belt.
But it is now highly unlikely given his potential WBO interim title clash with Justis Huni will now be delayed until later in 2025.
During an interview with talkSPORT, Itauma’s promoter Francis Warren discussed the route to the pinnacle of the division, with his next outing plotted for April.
He said: “Yeah there is moving parts, you know what business is like, it could change tomorrow.
“Moses is set to fight again in April before any interim title fight is discussed.
“The Huni fight, the reason he is specifically being targeted is because they are ranked at No.5, or No.6 in the world rankings.
“If that interim title does become available following Daniel Dubois’ fight with Joseph Parker, then we can grab it with both hands.
“And then that would put us in a fantastic position to fight for the full world title later on in the year.”
Itauma would miss out on the record, but could well become a world champion at the age of 20, if the mapped out plan comes to fruition before the end of 2025.
The Chatham native has shown his credentials already having battered Demsey McKean in a sensational one-round stoppage in December.
It could be a huge year to prove his name as a leading heavyweight, as his promoter Warren has revealed some of the big names who are on his radar in the next year.
“It is a collective decision to how quick we move but you can rattle off some names,” Warren continued.
“Filip Hrgovic, Otto Wallin, Justis Huni that is a fight that is being talked about, Charles Martin is another great name on our radar.
GettyItauma has steamrolled all of his opponents, holding a professional record of 11-0[/caption]
“But the fact is Moses is 20 in his second year as a professional, and he is already being talked about fighting some of the big guys.”
Itauma will miss the record narrowly, but it won’t be his priority as he looks to fulfil his destiny as becoming the latest British heavyweight king.
And the teenage prodigy is satisfied as long as his name is being mentioned in the top bracket of the division.
He remarked: “I mean it’s quite easy to have your feet on the ground when you have a circle like mine.
“At the minute I don’t feel like I have taken a step wrong, and I just want to enjoy boxing.
“With that Mike Tyson record, what I wanted to get at was to become a world champion when people think I can’t do it. As long as I’m in that bracket I’m not too bothered.”