Moses Itauma looks to a boxing legend as inspiration for his career in the sport.
The future of the heavyweight division, Itauma, exudes confidence in and out of the ring, believing he can beat any fighter in the world, including his next opponent, Dillian Whyte.
There have been questions from some about his world title hopes, considering he has faced little adversity in his first 12 professional fights, but from the Saudi Arabian clash onwards, the fights are set to show his level.
Boxing fans have been assured by professionals that Moses is the ‘real deal’ and will go on to become the next heavyweight champion from the UK, taking over the last titleholder from these shores, Daniel Dubois.
Moses Itauma plans to emulate Floyd Mayweather’s boxing career
However, he doesn’t just want to stop at winning a world title; he wants to become an all-time great in the sport.
His inspiration behind becoming the best is the one and only Floyd Mayweather Jr, who conquered five weights and amassed an impressive 50-0 record, which included wins over rivals Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya.
In an interview with Ring Magazine, the 20-year-old sensation spoke frankly on his mindset towards the sport.
He said: “You can’t admit that another man is better than you. I feel like with boxing, it comes with a bit of respect. So, I just don’t want it to be, ‘Yeah, that guy whooped my a- -’.
“I want to be like Floyd Mayweather, where he made a lot of money in this sport, came out with his brains intact, no damage, and nobody can say that ‘Yes I f- – -ed him up’, that’s the career that I want.”
Floyd retired from the sport shortly after beating Conor McGregor in his 50th contest after 21 years as an active competitor in the ring.
Even when the interviewer brought up the Marcos Maidana and Shane Mosley fights, which had some close moments, ‘The Wrecking Ball’ was quick to dismiss those claims.
“He was such a good fighter, 50-0. People are insecure about that. People don’t want to accept that reality,” Itauma said.
“So they put a bit of doubt and a bit of pressure on Floyd Mayweather to get him to crack. I don’t look at it from that perspective. I look at it like ‘Wow, he’s achieved a lot’.”
Moses Itauma is taking a tougher test in his 13th fight than Floyd Mayweather
‘The Body Snatcher’ after 13 fights is a great yardstick to see exactly where the prodigy fits into the world-level scene.
Brixton’s own has held the WBC interim heavyweight title and other organisation ranking belts in his 34 contests, making him tougher and more experienced than the 13th opponent of ‘Money May’.
The American came into the professional game with an Olympic bronze medal from the 1996 games, and in fight 13, he fought Hector Arroyo (16-4-2).
His Puerto Rican opponent looked overmatched as Floyd used his blistering hand speed to floor him twice with a flurry of hooks before the contest was stopped in the fifth round.
Arroyo would not find any success thereafter, with his career ending on a five-fight losing streak in 2001, which included a loss to Diego Corrales.