Tyson hit Berbick with such force that, after he went down heavily for a second time, the Jamaican veteran reeled across the ring, fell, got up, toppled over, staggered to his feet, and lurched into the opposite corner where he collapsed again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve watched that fight, of course,\u201d Itauma said of an iconic moment in heavyweight history. \u201cBut Tyson\u2019s had his career. I\u2019m still making my career. Of course I tried to set up a goal to become the youngest heavyweight world champion. I didn\u2019t achieve it, but I landed a fight with Dillian Whyte [a former world title challenger whom Itauma knocked out in less than two minutes<\/a> last August]. So it\u2019s step by step.\u201d<\/p>\n In his most recent contest, Itauma was seriously impressive again when dispatching Jermaine Franklin in five rounds<\/a>. Teddy Atlas, the outspoken boxing pundit who helped train Tyson at the outset of his career, was glowing in his assessment of Itauma<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s the first heavyweight that actually matches Tyson\u2019s combination of speed and power,\u201d Atlas said. \u201cThe difference is how [Itauma] does it. Tyson did it in a very one-dimensional, aggressive way, coming forward, making you miss, making you pay. Itauma? He\u2019s got a lot of options. He\u2019s [multi-]dimensional. He can box, he can set traps, he can counterpunch. He can fight inside. He can do a lot of different things. He\u2019s got good intellect. He\u2019s got good technique.\u201d<\/p>\n Itauma was surprised when told of Atlas\u2019s favourable comparison. \u201cTeddy Atlas said that? Really?\u201d<\/p>\n Moses Itauma only needed five rounds to become the first boxer to stop Jermaine Franklin in his last fight. Photograph: Alex Livesey\/Getty Images<\/p>\n He then responded more wryly, remembering the past animosity between the two men. \u201cTeddy Atlas put a gun to Mike Tyson\u2019s head before, no? I think he just doesn\u2019t like Mike Tyson<\/a>, so he\u2019s finding a way to dim his light. But Teddy Atlas saying that? I appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n After he made history against Berbick 40 years ago Tyson oozed brooding malevolence as he sneered: \u201cI wanted to bust his eardrum. Every punch had bad intentions.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if he wants to be similarly ferocious against Hrgovic in an attempt to become a star in mainstream sport, Itauma shrugged. \u201cI just had an interview with the BBC, and they asked me: \u2018What\u2019s the one thing that people don\u2019t know about Moses Itauma?\u2019 I said I don\u2019t actually want to be under the bright lights. But, with the way I\u2019m going, it looks like I ain\u2019t got no choice.\u201d<\/p>\n Itauma added: \u201cI think I\u2019m learning how to deal with the media. When I first started as a professional, the problem is you\u2019re always talking about what you\u2019re gonna do, and it\u2019s like you haven\u2019t yet proved anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
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