Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest boxer to win the heavyweight world title might be one of the hardest to break across all sports, however, there is a young Brit who is ready to take on the challenge.
‘Iron Mike’ was just twenty years, four months and twenty-two days old, when he brutally stopped Trevor Berbick by second round knockout in 1986 to win the title.
At this point, Tyson had a perfect record of 27 fights and 27 wins under his belt, with 25 of those victories coming inside the distance and nineteen being ended in the first or second round.
The man trying to emulate that career is Moses Itauma.
Moses, brother of Queensberry’s light-heavyweight prospect, Karol, has also signed with Frank Warren’s outfit. The 18-year-old southpaw is unbeaten in twenty-four fights as an amateur and a two-time national champion that has won gold at School, Junior, European and now World level.
However, perhaps the most impressive mark on Itauma’s boxing ‘CV’, is that he was sparring the likes of Daniel Dubois, Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce and Lawrence Okolie at the age of just fifteen and, in his words, holding his own, if not getting the better of them. Joyce even stated that Itauma was one of his toughest ever spars, despite his young age.
In a clip shared by BT Sport, the prospect was certainly not short of confidence as he declared his ambition of beating Tyson’s legendary record.
“I want to become the youngest heavyweight world champion. I want to beat Mike Tyson’s record of twenty years, four months and twenty-two days.”
Youngest World Champion in heavyweight history? Some goals this kid has! ??
Moses Itauma is looking to make history by taking Mike Tyson's record ? pic.twitter.com/89HXXzGV5f
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) January 10, 2023
Having just turned 18, Itauma has just over two years to get his hands on a heavyweight world title if he is to break Tyson’s record. His professional journey to the top will begin at the end of the month, as he makes his debut at Wembley Arena, on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev’s title defence against Anthony Yarde.
With the British heavyweight scene arguably at its peak, it seems that the future is also in safe hands.
