Moses Itauma secured the first serious scalp of his career with a ruthless second-round stoppage of Mariusz Wach, a veteran fighter more than twice his age. Wach, now a weary 44, previously went the distance with Wladimir Klitschko in 2012 and later did the same with Hughie Fury, Dillian Whyte, and Frazer Clarke.

However, the 6ft 7in Polish Viking was no match for the 19-year-old prodigy from Kent, who demolished him in just six one-sided minutes—the quickest defeat of Wach’s career.

“I don’t want to badmouth anyone, but Wach was known for taking people the distance,” Itauma said. “The earliest he was ever stopped was around six rounds, but I did it in two, so it’s a statement. He has faced the likes of Klitschko and Dillian Whyte, and they haven’t done that to him. It lets the heavyweight division know I am here. I am only 19, but come on. I also want to thank Mariusz because nobody else wanted to take the fight.”

Itauma, who turned 19 in December, displayed skill and composure beyond his years in the first round, using feints and jabs to size up his veteran opponent. In the second round, he shifted gears, dropping Wach with a series of powerful blows and forcing the referee to intervene before any further punishment could be inflicted.

The young fighter from Chatham backed the battered veteran into a neutral corner and unleashed a flurry of punches, targeting Wach’s midsection and head. Referee Michael Alexander stepped in to halt the bout, as Itauma’s supporters erupted in cheers for his impressive display of controlled aggression.

Former world champion and commentator Carl Froch praised Itauma’s performance as one of the best by a British boxer this year. Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren warned that Frazer Clarke could be the next target for Itauma’s unstoppable rise.

https://x.com/boxingontnt/status/1817298771937476895