The hype surrounding Moses Itauma is far from unprecedented, but it is rare that a heavyweight comes along who practically everyone expects to conquer the world. Whether Itauma turns out to be a true generational talent is for now unknown, but after 14 fights, has he really done enough to justify the hoopla surrounding him?
Two sanctioning bodies already have him as their No. 1 contender, which, even when one considers Itauma’s exceptionally impressive form, can only be justified by his potential and not his achievements. After all, his two best victories – over Jermaine Franklin and Dillian Whyte – came against fighters who were not exactly world-beaters themselves. Franklin, though indeed crafty and durable, had lost to Anthony Joshua and Whyte in recent years, and Whyte, though once a leading contender, had not been the same since a 2022 thrashing at the hands of Tyson Fury.
Throw in Itauma’s wins, and manner of them, over Demsey McKean and Mariusz Wach – the only other names on his record of real note – and you certainly have a 21-year-old overflowing with promise. But how does Itauma’s progress and reputation compare with 14-0 heavyweights from the past who, to varying degrees, went on to achieve what is expected from Itauma?
Cassius Clay, 14-0 (11 KOs), 21 years old
Before he became Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay was a young braggart making bold promises of world domination. Of his first 14 bouts, eight had been scheduled for 10 rounds (compared to Itauma’s five), and it can be argued he fought tougher opposition.
Taken the full 10 by Duke Sabedong and Alonzo Johnson, he had also beaten respected foes like Willi Besmanoff, Sonny Banks, George Logan and, in his 14th contest, the unbeaten Billy Daniels.
But there were arguably more doubts about Clay’s future back in 1962 than there are about Itauma’s 64 years later. The “Louisville Lip” had been floored by Banks and, when the fearsome Sonny Liston feasted on Floyd Patterson to claim the title later that year, few believed Clay would be the man to tame him.
Mike Tyson, 14-0 (14 KOs), 19 years old
Itauma has long been compared to Tyson, largely because the Briton declared – upon turning pro – that he could beat Tyson’s record and become the youngest heavyweight titlist in history.
Tyson moved exceptionally quickly, but after his 14 fights and single year in the professional code, the world had yet to be truly introduced to “Iron Mike.”
In his first 14 bouts, only two were scheduled for 10 rounds. And though Tyson effortlessly destroyed boxers like Donnie Long, Eddie Richardson, Conroy Nelson and Sammy Scaff, he had yet to defeat anyone approaching world level. Still to come was his breakneck 1986 campaign, when he made believers out of us all.
But when 14-0, Tyson was not universally perceived as the champion-in-waiting that Itauma is today.
Joe Louis, 14-0 (11 KOs), 20 years old
Louis in the 1930s was quickly recognized for his power and finesse. But after 14 fights, he had yet to obliterate former champions Primo Carnera and Max Baer, two victories that convinced the boxing world he would soon rule it.
That’s not to say there wasn’t a buzz surrounding young Louis as he cruised through his debut year (1934) with style. Grantland Rice, a respected sportswriter of the era, described Louis as a “brown cobra” with the “speed of the jungle.” Fellow journalist Bob Soderman, of the Chicago Tribune, was another who was quick to note the prowess of America’s Louis as he chewed through fighters like Jack O’Dowd, Charley Massera and Lee Ramage.
But in the absence of the internet – and, in turn, hype-breeding platforms like YouTube – the public at large could only take the writers’ words for it at the start.
Anthony Joshua, 14-0 (14 KOs), 25 years old
We’re not necessarily suggesting Joshua is as “great” as the names above, but he’s a worthwhile inclusion given his rise, certainly unlike those of Ali, Louis and Tyson, came at a time comparable to the current day.
Joshua, when 14-0, was surely the most exciting heavyweight to come along since Tyson. He was also one of the most “visible” of all heavyweights with each of his bouts – from his crowning moment in the 2012 Olympics and beyond – coming on big televised events. The noise was difficult to ignore.
Yet Itauma is likely more advanced. Joshua’s best wins came over the unproven Gary Cornish and the fading Kevin Johnson and Michael Sprott. Interestingly, however, Joshua would win his first world belt just two fights later, when he marmalized Charles Martin to take the IBF belt.
Tyson Fury, 14-0 (10 KOs), 22 years old
Another one thrown in for some modern context, but in terms of expectation after 14 fights, Fury is some way below the others listed here – and Itauma. Fury was highly regarded, of course, but at a time when the Klitschko brothers had a stranglehold on the division, the spidery Fury was not thought to be the man to break it.
Though Fury’s ability was clear, plenty doubted how far he could possibly go. He just seemed too clumsy up close and too easy to hit. There were jokes at his expense, too, not least when he whacked himself in the face in a bout with Lee Swaby.
He had been matched competitively, though. In fact, his eighth bout suggested he might be being matched too competitively when he was beyond lucky to get the nod over John McDermott after a 10-round battle for the English championship. He would win the rematch, but 14 fights into his career (he would beat Derek Chisora for the British title in his 15th), his reputation as a world-class fighter was still several years from being formed.
Matt Christie, a lifelong fight fan, has worked in boxing for more than 20 years. He left Boxing News in 2024 after 14 years, nine of which were spent as editor-in-chief. Before that, he was the producer of weekly boxing show “KOTV.” Now the co-host of ”The Opening Bell” podcast and regularly used by Sky Sports in the UK as a pundit, Matt was named as the Specialist Correspondent of the Year at the prestigious Sports Journalism Awards in 2021, which was the seventh SJA Award he accepted during his stint in the hot seat at Boxing News. The following year, he was inducted into the British Boxing Hall of Fame. He is a member of the BWAA and has been honored several times in their annual writing awards.
