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Boxing’s best young prospects tend to be handled carefully and are given time to learn before dangerous tests arrive.<\/p>\n
Itauma, however, has been fast-tracked to his world-title shot.<\/p>\n
Francis Warren – son of Queensberry chief Frank – first noticed him as a teenager, sparring established professionals. Former British heavyweight champion Jeamie ‘TKV’ Tshikeva was there even earlier.<\/p>\n
“Moses was a big 11 or 12-year-old, around 75 to 80kg, (11st 11lb to 12st 8lb) and sparred an adult of the same weight,” TKV says. “He really showed up, put hands on this grown man, and I was shocked.<\/p>\n
“The guy he sparred was around 25. Imagine going home and telling your wife you got beat up by a kid.”<\/p>\n
Itauma’s progress has been marked by destructive stoppages over Dillian Whyte and Jermaine Franklin. They may not be world-beaters, but the manner of those wins strengthened belief Itauma was destined for the top.<\/p>\n
When Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF title and Frank Sanchez agreed to step aside, Itauma’s fight with Hrgovic was elevated into a world-title contest.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, the fast track looked, to some, like a shortcut.<\/p>\n
Hrgovic – even before the IBF belt was on the line – claimed Itauma had been handed “everything on a plate”. On social media, there was a similar feeling – perhaps a final eliminator would have been a more natural way to earn his shot.<\/p>\n
Itauma, though, has little interest in proving himself to the doubters.<\/p>\n
“It’s a lose-lose situation for me because if I win, I’ve done what people expect, and if I lose, it’s just like, I wasn’t as good as what I thought,” he says.<\/p>\n
“I don’t find happiness in trying to please other people’s expectations.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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