Oleksandr Usyk has chosen the next undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing – and it’s not Daniel DuboisThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Oleksandr Usyk has his eyes on his heavyweight successor(Image: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Oleksandr Usyk believes Moses Itauma is the future of boxing, ahead of the likes of Daniel Dubois. Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury were also snubbed as the Ukrainian discussed who could be next in line for his heavyweight belts.
Usyk has defeated the trio of British boxers, most recently knocking out Dubois to retain all his heavyweight titles and earn the IBF crown. In his last six fights, the Ukrainian has beaten all three stars twice and continued his undefeated run of 24 wins.
The 39-year-old has recently stated he has three bouts left before he hangs up his gloves. Usyk will face kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in Egypt on Saturday, as he bids to retire undefeated in boxing.
And Usyk has full faith that his legacy will be carried on by 21-year-old Itauma. When asked by talkSPORT about who will become the next undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk said: “Moses Itauma, I think is a great fighter. Young. 20 years old. I think Itauma has a big future.”
So far, the young boxer is 14-0, recently knocking Jermaine Franklin out in March 2026 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. The Kent-based star, born in Slovakia, currently holds the WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight titles.
Fury sparred Itauma in 2024 when he was still a teenager and wrote on Instagram: “@m.itauma (Moses Itauma) is the future of the heavyweight division.”
Moses Itauma has received praise from Fury and Usyk(Image: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
At the time, the youngster was adamant on breaking Mike Tyson’s record of becoming the youngest heavyweight champion of all time. He told The Mirror: “I want to become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson who was 20 years old.
“I need to take small steps but also ensure that I step up the tasks very quickly. I want to do short steps but not too much with them. Youngest ever world heavyweight champion is in my mid-term goals but it is something that I can believe I can achieve before 2025.
“It is not what I am thinking about right of this second, but I want to let that come once I have grown as a professional. I have gone from not having any press at all to this and it is crazy.
“I am in the right place because Frank Warren has all the other big heavyweights at the moment so I think I have a bright future.”
Itauma is regarded as the next big thing(Image: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Promoter Frank Warren is keen to temper Itauma’s expectations but believes he will be fighting for a world title later in the year. Speaking to DAZN in March, the 74-year-old said: “I have to be very, very honest with you, I’ve had a lot of young, really good, talented young fighters at an early age work me.
“Ricky Hatton, Naz, all of them. And as a heavyweight at his age, I mean, he’s 21 now. At his age, he is without a doubt the most talented and the best I’ve seen at this moment in time. And obviously as we step him up, we’ll see.
“But at this moment in time, I think he’s unbelievable for his age. And I look at all the other heavyweights, how many of them turn pro in their teens? [Mike] Tyson and Daniel Dubois. But other than that, not a lot.
“I think he’ll be his own man, and I think he’ll pave his own way. And I would really, really like to see him fight for a world title this year.”