Itauma looks like a fighter straight out of a video game. His youth is impressive, but that is simply a part of the story. He possesses speed, accuracy, movement, and footwork rarely seen within the heavyweight division.
Add devastating power in each hands, and you will have a young contender who presents a really difficult challenge for a fighter like Usyk, who, despite his age, still carries an elite technical, mental, and competitive arsenal.
Personally, I all the time approach the heavyweight division with a high degree of caution. On this weight class, a single punch can define a complete fight. History has shown us that challengers with little likelihood on paper have sometimes modified every thing with one perfectly timed shot.
There’s also the likelihood that this fight could prove less explosive than many expect. Each men are highly expert defensively, and that may sometimes transform what promised to be fireworks right into a tactical chess match that doesn’t fully satisfy the general public.
I obviously appreciate every aspect of a fighter’s craft. Yet after I see a powerful preference for the art of hitting without being hit, I’m sometimes left wanting to find who can impose his power in a direct exchange. Nonetheless, when a lot is invested in a single matchup, expectations often grow larger than reality, and the history of mega-fights continuously reminds us of that.
There’s one other old boxing saying that claims styles make fights. I respect that concept deeply, but over time, I actually have come to rely more heavily on one other principle: the fighter who imposes his style normally finally ends up fighting his fight.
That’s the lens through which I try to research many matchups. I have a look at what each fighter does best, where he feels most comfortable, what pace he must perform at his highest level, and most significantly, who has the higher likelihood of forcing the opposite man to compete under his terms. From there, I begin constructing my predictions.
Usyk is a phenomenon. An undefeated fighter and undisputed champion, he has faced every challenge placed before him and defeated all of them. His offensive and defensive abilities remain amongst the very best in the game, and he all the time enters the ring with the intention of delivering a memorable performance.
Moses Itauma, meanwhile, continues to rise rapidly through the heavyweight ranks. Still undefeated, he made a powerful statement in his victory over Jermaine Franklin Jr., showing that he could also be able to take the subsequent step and pursue a fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
My prediction?
This time, I consider boxing wins.
Two of the best heavyweights of the moment facing each other is precisely the form of fight fans must see more often. In actual fact, I’d not even rule out a controversial decision that leaves promoters and fans demanding a rematch.