Will fast-tracked Itauma become world champion at 21?Figure caption, ‘I’d be the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson’ – ItaumaByKal SajadBBC Sport boxing journalistPublished53 minutes agoBritish heavyweight Moses Itauma pulls out his phone and scrolls through his pictures.He shows a meme featuring former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo in traditional attire, standing with his hands on his hips and staring deadpan into the camera.”This is how an African dad looks at you when you pursue a career that goes against his wishes and you turn out to be successful,” a chuckling Itauma reads aloud to BBC Sport. “That is pretty much my dad.”Itauma was born in Slovakia to a Nigerian father and a Slovak mother before moving to Kent as a young child. His parents originally wanted him to become a doctor or a lawyer. But once his older brother turned professional and the family recognised Itauma’s exceptional natural talent, their stance softened.”Don’t worry about school. Just focus on your boxing,” his mother eventually stated.That decision has paid off spectacularly.At 21, Itauma steps into the ring against Filip Hrgovic on Saturday for the vacant IBF title with the chance to become the second-youngest world heavyweight champion in history.
“There’s a lot of expectations on my shoulders to carry the flag of British boxing. I just have to live up to it,” Itauma says.
