19-Year-Old Boxer Poised to Break Mike Tyson’s Youngest Heavyweight Champion Record
In November 1986, Mike Tyson made boxing history by defeating Trevor Berbick with a second-round knockout, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in the world at the age of 20 years and 145 days. Tyson’s record has stood strong for 38 years, but it is now being threatened by Moses Itauma, a 19-year-old British-Slovakian rising star.
Moses Itauma is currently training with Ben Davison in Essex, England, where he has the opportunity to interact with Olympic champion and two-time world champion Anthony Joshua. Although Itauma hasn’t sparred with Joshua yet, he has received valuable advice from the seasoned champion.
“He has not only helped me in the ring but has also given me a lot of life advice. Simple things like managing money, finding a good lawyer, and making investments. He has really opened my eyes, and I appreciate it,” Itauma shared with Dailystar.
Itauma expressed his respect for Joshua and his eagerness to heed his advice. “Whatever he tells me, I listen. He’s helped me a lot with tips in the ring, although we’ve never sparred together.”
Despite this, Itauma admitted to ignoring Joshua’s advice in the past. After winning the U18 world championship in 2022, Itauma turned professional under the management of Francis Warren, even though Joshua advised him to wait and aim for the Olympics. Currently, Itauma boasts an undefeated record of nine wins, seven of which are knockouts.
Itauma is set to face veteran boxer Mariusz Wach in the opening bout of the Joe Joyce vs. Derek Chisora event on July 27. Under the guidance of Ben Davison, former coach of Tyson Fury, Itauma believes he is evolving into a true professional boxer.
“When I first met Ben, he told me I needed to be more efficient in my fighting. This week, I had a 10-round sparring session and still felt I could go on. Normally, I’d be out of breath after four rounds. He said it’s not that I lack fitness; I just haven’t tapped into it yet. Simple things like pushing back an opponent without throwing a punch are crucial,” Itauma revealed.
With Davison’s guidance and Joshua’s advice, Itauma is on the path to becoming a significant name in the boxing world. It remains to be seen if he can break Mike Tyson’s record and become the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
