Not Tyson Fury or Daniel Dubois – Usyk picks his | Boxing News

Oleksandr Usyk has declared Moses Itauma as the future of boxing, inserting him forward of the likes of Daniel Dubois. Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have been also neglected as the Ukrainian outlined who he believes might be next in line to declare his heavyweight belts.

Usyk has overwhelmed all three British fighters, most not too long ago knocking out Dubois to retain all his heavyweight titles and secure the IBF crown. Across his last six bouts, the Ukrainian has defeated all three stars twice, extending his unbeaten file to 24 victories. The 39-12 months-outdated has not too long ago confirmed he has three fights remaining before he retires. Usyk will take on kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in Egypt on Saturday, as he appears to bow out of boxing without a single defeat on his file.

However, Usyk is firmly satisfied that his legacy will probably be continued by 21-12 months-outdated Itauma. When quizzed by talkSPORT on who will turn out to be the next undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk said: “Moses Itauma, I think is a great fighter. Young. 20 years old. I think Itauma has a big future.”

To date, the younger fighter boasts an unblemished file of 14-0, having not too long ago stopped Jermaine Franklin in March 2026 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. The Kent-based star, who was born in Slovakia, at present holds both the WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight titles.

Fury sparred with Itauma in 2024 when he was still a teenager and wrote on Instagram: “Moses Itauma is the future of the heavyweight division.”

At the time, the teenager was decided to shatter Mike Tyson’s file of changing into the youngest heavyweight champion of all time. He told The Mirror: “I want to become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson who was 20 years old. I need to take small steps but also ensure that I step up the tasks very quickly.

“I would like to do short steps but not an excessive amount of with them. Youngest ever world heavyweight champion is in my mid-time period objectives but it’s one thing that I can imagine I can obtain before 2025. I’m in the precise place because Frank Warren has all the other big heavyweights at the second so I believe I’ve a vivid future.”

Promoter Warren is raring to handle Itauma’s expectations, yet stays assured he will probably be contending for a world title later this 12 months. Speaking to DAZN in March, the 74-12 months-outdated said: “I’ve to be very, very trustworthy with you, I’ve had a lot of younger, actually good, proficient younger fighters at an early age.

“And as a heavyweight at his age, I mean, he’s 21 now. At his age, he is without a doubt the most talented and the best I’ve seen at this moment in time. I think he’s unbelievable for his age. And I look at all the other heavyweights, how many of them turn pro in their teens? [Mike] Tyson and Daniel Dubois. But other than that, not a lot.”