Lennox Lewis has given his expert view on who might rule the heavyweight division in the years to come.
There is plenty of change at the top right now. Tyson Fury has been retired since his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk back in December last year. Anthony Joshua is recovering from elbow surgery, has not fought since his KO loss to Daniel Dubois last September and needs to pick his return opponent wisely, given his advancing years.
Usyk is now 37 years old and has, in most people’s eyes, completed boxing as a former undisputed cruiserweight ruler turned historic two-time undisputed champion in the banner division.
Many of the other big names in the division are also nearing 40, be that Zhilei Zhang or Deontay Wilder, which means there is space for a new generation to really make their mark in the coming years.
Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, Lewis thinks that 20-year-old sensation Moses Itauma will be the one to shine.
“Itauma is the next coming.”
Itauma currently has a record of 12 and 0 and has blazed through all of his opponents so far. In his last two fights, he has stopped durable Mariusz Wach and Dempsey McKean, both in two rounds, and next time out in August, he steps up against fringe world-level opposition Dillian Whyte, who has shared the ring with the likes of Fury and Joshua so knows how to handle himself.
Another quick win for Itauma would really see him coming of age, though many still believe that talk of a fight with Usyk is still a little premature for such a young and still inexperienced fighter.