Moses Itauma Should Take ‘baby Steps’ Before Fighting Usyk, Warns Amir Khan

3 weeks ago

Moses Itauma should proceed to steadily build his travel done nan heavyweight ranks alternatively than consequence getting wounded by taking a showdown pinch Oleksandr Usyk “too early”, according to erstwhile unified light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan.

Chatham southpaw Itauma extended his cleanable grounds done 13 master fights pinch an awesome first-round knockout of British rival Dillian Whyte successful Riyadh connected Saturday. The 20-year-old’s devasting capacity against erstwhile WBC interim heavyweight champion Whyte, 37, led to Tyson Fury claiming that Itauma would hit undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk.

Itauma, though, played down talk of calling retired nan Ukrainian successful his post-fight comments, alternatively focusing connected contenders specified arsenic Agit Kabayel aliases Joseph Parker, who is nan WBO interim champion and adjacent successful statement for a changeable astatine Usyk.

Khan, 38, turned master aft claiming a metallic badge astatine nan 2004 Olympics, going connected to unify his ain section - and feels Itauma’s “time will come” if he takes things dependable nether nan watchful oculus of Queensberry promoter Frank Warren. “He was fighting for illustration a middleweight aliases moreover a lightweight pinch nan activity and velocity he had, really speedy he was throwing those shots, they were each truthful cleanable and accurate,” Khan told nan PA news agency.

“He was very balanced, was calm and collected. The feline is going to spell acold and erstwhile you spot talent for illustration that, you deliberation ‘amazing’. I cognize Frank will steadily beforehand him nan correct measurement and besides get him nan correct fights astatine nan correct time. I cognize group are talking astir Usyk, but I deliberation that is measurement excessively early because he is going to extremity up getting hurt. You don’t want to return a conclusion for illustration that, because you will ne'er beryllium nan aforesaid combatant again.

“Usyk is nan pinnacle, and possibly 1 of nan champion ever, retired of nan heavyweights, truthful he [Warren] can’t really put him successful pinch a awesome conscionable yet, but his clip will come. At nan moment, I deliberation personification for illustration Parker would beryllium a awesome move aliases [Filip] Hrgovic, who has conscionable had a bully triumph arsenic well. These are fighters that he needs to fight, possibly to support taking those babe steps alternatively of taking nan large steps.”

Khan added: “Imagine aft I had won that Commonwealth [lightweight] title [in 2007] that they had put maine consecutive into a world title conflict against personification for illustration Tim Bradley aliases Devon Alexander – I wasn’t fresh for that. Even though I would person said I would person jumped successful nan ringing pinch them – because astatine that property you want to spell into nan ringing pinch anyone and everyone – but you person to beryllium smart and I americium judge Itauma has a bully squad astir him.”

Khan’s AK Promotions institution has collaborated pinch Balmoral Group Promotions to shape ‘Chaos successful nan Ring’ successful Lagos, Nigeria connected 1 October, which will characteristic nan return of Rocky Fieldingon against Brandon Glanton arsenic good arsenic Dan Azeez and Elvis Ahorgah.

“We are opening caller doors. Africa is simply a state that nary 1 has done shows successful and we are nan first to go,” said Khan, who besides promoted a show successful Ghana during June erstwhile cruiserweight Andrew Tabiti stopped location favourite Jacob Dickson. “You person sewage a batch of awesome fighters from Nigeria, truthful I americium judge they will want to travel and show support successful this event.”