Chatham heavyweight Moses Itauma will spar with Tyson Fury again ahead of his own big fight in December.
Itauma penned a new long-term deal with Queensberry Promotions last week and is preparing for his biggest challenge yet when he meets Demsey McKean at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh.
That fight is on the undercard of Fury’s three-belt world championship rematch against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday, December 21. The two men will trade blows in preparation for a massive night for both boxers.
Speaking to Sky Sports, 19-year-old Itauma said: “We’re kind of similar styles, the likes of me and Usyk, so I feel like I’ll be very beneficial.
“It just compliments me but I’m not going to go there just to help him. I want to gauge my ability off his ability. I’m looking forward to that.”
Fury has previously welcomed Itauma to his home gym in Morecambe for sparring and has already described the Kent boxer as a potential world champion.
Itauma’s record stands at 10-0, taking the professional ranks by storm, gaining plenty of admirers, including the legendary boxer Mike Tyson.
A long-term promotional agreement with Queensberry and Frank Warren ensures Itauma will have every chance of reaching the top of the game.
He was one of several high-profile boxers re-signed last week by the major promoters.
Described by Warren’s outfit as “the world-leading heavyweight prospect” they say that the teenager “has captured the imagination of fight fans and the broader public since turning professional at the beginning of last year.”
Maidstone’s British, Commonwealth and European lightweight champion Sam Noakes (15-0) is among those rewarded with a new deal and Warren added: “I am certain there are more world champions to come from this group, who are all set for further exciting developments in the coming months.”
Itauma’s last bout was in July, stopping Mariusz Wach in the second round at the 02.
Prior to that he’d beaten Ilja Mezencev during another devastating display, one which prompted former champ David Haye to declare that he’d seen a future world champion in action, adding: “To be in the position physically at 19, skills, not taking any unnecessary shots, the punch-power, that’s what you want to see in a future champ.”
McKean is one of the men Itauma had wanted to meet as his team plot a path to the top. The Australian southpaw has a fight record of 22 wins (14KO) and just the one defeat.
Itauma’s won his last six bouts inside two round against opponents who have supposedly been a step up every time. McKean insists he’ll have a challenge on his hands when they meet in Saudi Arabia next month.
The Aussie, who lost his own unbeaten record last time out, said: “We are both excited, this is a fight I wanted as well. He can call out the Dubois and the top guys but they won’t take it serious, it’s a numbers game, he’s only had 10 fights, it’s risk versus reward, he’s crafty.
“They know it will be a hard fight, it won’t be a walk in the park, I am an experienced professional and been in with some tough guys.
“I have a good skill set, I won’t sit there and plod along in the middle of the ring and let him just hit me. I will use my footwork, speed and agility and my athleticism.
“I’ll be moving around. A lot of these guys he has fought have been happy to take a knee, take a pay cheque and get out of their as quick as possible.
“I’m coming to win, I want to win. I’m something he hasn’t faced yet.”
Itama is chasing Mike Tyson’s record to become the youngest ever world champion at heavyweight and McKean, 34, added: “You have to take big step-up fights to do that. I have called out their plan, that they are overlooking me, they’ll take out me and then go to Joseph Parker to fight for the interim WBO title and that’s their quickest route to the world title.
“Even he said to me, ‘how did you know our plan?’ I said, ‘mate, it’s the same thing me and my team would do!’ But it’s a dangerous game to overlook people at the top level, you can forget about what’s in front of you.
“This is a real fight, there’s a lot on the line. There’s probably more pressure on him because he has records to beat but there is pressure on me, I still want to win a world title.”
Itauma said: “I’m not deluded. I do believe I’m going to go in there and knock him out, but there’s a possibility that could happen to me. I just train, and hope that that’s not me.”
