Amir Khan gives Moses Itauma advice over Oleksandr | Boxing News

Moses Itauma ought to continue to steadily construct his journey through the heavyweight ranks quite than risk getting harm by taking a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk “too early”, according to former unified light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan.

Chatham southpaw Itauma prolonged his good report through 13 skilled fights with an spectacular first-round knockout of British rival Dillian Whyte in Riyadh on Saturday.

The 20-year-old’s devasting efficiency against former WBC interim heavyweight champion Whyte, 37, noticed Tyson Fury declare Itauma would beat undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk.

Itauma, though, performed down speak of calling out the Ukrainian in his post-fight feedback, instead focusing on the likes of contenders Agit Kabayel or Joseph Parker, who is the WBO interim champion and next in line for a shot at Usyk.

Khan, 38, turned skilled after claiming a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics, going on to unify his own division – and feels Itauma’s “time will come” if he takes issues regular under the watchful eye of Queensberry promoter Frank Warren.

“He was fighting like a middleweight or even a lightweight with the movement and speed he had, how quick he was throwing those shots, they were all so clean and accurate,” Khan told the PA news company.

“He was very balanced, was calm and collected. The guy is going to go far and when you see talent like that, you think ‘amazing’. I know Frank will steadily promote him the right way and also get him the right fights at the right time.

“I do know people are speaking about Usyk, but I believe that is approach too early because he’s going to end up getting harm. You don’t desire to take a defeat like that, because you’ll never be the same fighter again.

“Usyk is the pinnacle, and maybe one of the best ever, out of the heavyweights, so he (Warren) can’t really put him in with a great just yet, but his time will come.

“At the second, I believe somebody like Parker could be a great transfer or (Filip) Hrgovic, who has just had a good win as effectively. These are fighters that he wants to struggle, possibly to keep taking those child steps instead of taking the big steps.”

Khan added: “Imagine after I had received that Commonwealth (light-weight) title (in 2007) that they’d put me straight into a world title struggle against somebody like Tim Bradley or Devon Alexander – I wasn’t prepared for that.

“Even though I would have said I would have jumped in the ring with them – because at that age you want to go into the ring with anyone and everyone – but you have to be smart and I am sure Itauma has a good team around him.”

Khan’s AK Promotions company has partnered with Balmoral Group Promotions to stage ‘Chaos in the Ring’ in Lagos, Nigeria on October 1, which can function the return of Rocky Fieldingon against Brandon Glanton as effectively as Dan Azeez and Elvis Ahorgah.

“We are opening new doors. Africa is a country that no one has done shows in and we are the first to go,” said Khan, who also promoted a show in Ghana during June when cruiserweight Andrew Tabiti stopped home favorite Jacob Dickson.

“You have got a lot of great fighters from Nigeria, so I am sure they will want to come and show support in this event.”