Boxing
Moses Itauma is a reluctant boxing star – and soon he will have no choice
Published
7 months agoon
Film stars Pierce Brosnan and Tom Hiddleston, as well as rapper Skepta, were also present.
Fellow boxer Conor Benn was in attendance, fully clothed and booted, with his dad, legendary fighter Nigel, just days after appearing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, beating Chris Eubank Jr in a rematch.
But as heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma navigated the glitz, glamor and camera flashes at the GQ British Person of the Year awards in London last November, his mind was elsewhere.
The 21-year-old Itauma (13-0, 11 KO) was widely recognized for his greatness. Don’t be surprised if he wins a world title in the next 18 months. But while others his age are partying and maybe even trying to find their place in the world, Itauma, ESPN’s 2025 Teenage Player of the Year, is focused on one goal.
It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy life outside of sports, but there is one thing on his mind day and night.
“I know boxing is my number 1,” Itauma tells reporters.
“When I was at these events and stuff… Of course it’s great, it’s nice to be around up-to-date people, but I just felt an element of, ‘I need to get back to the gym.’”
THIS WILL BE A SENTIMENT will be music to the ears of trainer Ben Davison, though not necessarily promoter Frank Warren, but Itauma has seen firsthand what bad choices can do to an aspiring champion and people his age. Red carpets, long nights turning into early mornings, even conversations with James Bond himself… That will come later.
“It attracted a lot of my friends. A lot of my friends, they could have been somebody, but then they got sucked into the party life,” Itauma says.
“Even if you ask my amateur coaches, they all said I wasn’t the most talented boxer… I didn’t punch the hardest, I wasn’t the best, but I kind of had enough consistency to stick around.
“Everyone else went to parties.”
Now, as one of the hottest prospects in the sport, the invitations come hefty and quick, but Itauma proves himself quickly. He has a wise head on juvenile shoulders. The success and praise he had already received made him realize before it was too delayed what some people never do.
He remains steadfast in his approach to boxing and life, willing to forge his own path.
“I started to realize that my family became more essential… And then the ones that weren’t that many just fell away,” he explains.
“Everyone says, ‘Oh, you’ve changed’. I should, my whole life has changed. You shouldn’t stay a caterpillar.”
But bigger changes are coming. We hope that his upcoming fight with American Jermaine Franklin Jr. on March 28 in Manchester will be a real test for him, considering that Itauma has only made it through the second round twice as a professional.
Last August, he dropped Dillian Whyte in the first round before injuries and the art of boxing, namely finding opponents willing to fight him, hampered his progress. Promoter Warren, who believes he has another superstar champion on his hands, hopes his charge will be tested against Franklin before bigger fights come later this year.
“No amateur experience as a senior and [Itauma’s] he did really well,” said Warren. “He’s in Jermaine now with a real experienced campaigner, two losses under his belt against a very good Dillian Whyte and [Anthony Joshua].
“He’s come a long way with [Joshua]. Can Moses do what they couldn’t do? Jermaine likes this job, that’s why he’s here. This is an essential moment in juvenile Moses’ career, but I believe in him.”
FOR FRANKLIN THIS another opportunity he thought had passed him by. In September during the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford match, a victory over Ivan Dychko put him back in the spotlight after several uncertain years.
At one point he declared bankruptcy and had to work full-time, away from boxing, to support his family. He did not fight in 2020 and 2021 until losses to Whyte and Joshua in 2022 and 2023 respectively, when he was forced to climb the ladder again.
He admits he almost cried during his final ring walk at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Now he doesn’t take anything for granted.
“I was raised Christian, so I know a lot of us, our journeys are very different,” Franklin says.
“So my journey may not be the same journey as someone else’s. I try not to think about it too much, I don’t get jealous or frustrated because I could have taken a longer route, but I still got here.”
Franklin says that after everything he’s been through, it’s a dream come true to return as the headliner of another show in the UK.
“It could have been on the card. I’d still be just as cheerful.”
I’m cheerful to be there, but Franklin will be desperate for a win against Itauma on March 28. However, he will face Itauma, a reluctant superstar who may have no choice but to accept that he will be in the spotlight if the knockouts continue to boost.
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Boxing
Lester Martinez Aims for Canelo Alvarez with BoMacs Support
Published
2 hours agoon
November 2, 2026
Lester Martinez would give Canelo Alvarez a dangerous first defense of his reclaimed WBC super middleweight title. The aggressive Guatemalan can punch and has Brian “BoMac” McIntyre in his corner, giving him access to the trainer who helped Terence Crawford beat Canelo.
“My dream now is to fight Canelo because he’s the champion,” Martinez said to Izquierdazo Boxeo in a quote shared by The Ring. His WBC interim title gives that ambition substance, although it does not establish that Canelo has been ordered to face him next.
The McIntyre connection makes this more interesting than another contender requesting a payday. BoMac knows what went into preparing Crawford for Canelo and could bring that knowledge into Martinez’s camp. The WBC lists McIntyre as Martinez’s trainer. wbcboxing.com
Crawford could also offer firsthand advice about Canelo’s timing, counterpunching and habits under pressure. His involvement in a potential camp has not been announced, but Martinez would have an obvious reason to seek his stablemate’s input.
Mbilli took too long to alter his approach when Canelo’s jab and head movement disrupted his pressure last weekend. He continued following Canelo without consistently changing how he attacked. Martinez would likely arrive expecting those tactics, with McIntyre preparing ways to get past the jab and vary his attack.
That would not make Lester immune to Canelo’s counters. It could, however, reduce the rounds spent trying to work out what to do next. BoMac could prepare alternatives before the opening bell and help Martinez adjust between rounds when Canelo starts frustrating him.
Martinez would still need to win with his own tools. He cannot copy Crawford’s performance. His route would involve sustained pressure, body punching and enough variation to prevent Canelo from anticipating each attack.
His 2025 draw with Mbilli gives him a relevant result against the man Canelo just defeated. Beating Canelo is another matter, but an aggressive puncher arriving with informed preparation would be a serious undertaking for the 36-year-old champion.
Boxing
Tyson Fury Unleashes Wilder KO Strategy to Overcome Anthony Joshua
Published
3 hours agoon
November 2, 2026
Tyson Fury is going back to the playbook behind his most destructive night. He is targeting 280 pounds when he meets Anthony Joshua on December 11 in Cardiff. He wants the crushing bulk that battered Deontay Wilder years ago. Scaling up to that number on the scales is easy. Recreating that vintage menace nearly seven years later is a totally different story.
Fury announced his intentions directly to his fans online. “Big boy 280lbs incoming,” he posted. “Not your average build. However, the love handles are used for energy.” He already promised a blistering pace out of the gate, followed by a quick stoppage.
Back in February 2020, Fury stepped on the scale at 273 pounds before stopping Wilder in round seven. That was Fury at his peak as an aggressive bruiser. He bullied Wilder backward. He draped his weight over the champion, forcing him to haul around all that mass. Wilder could never find the space needed to trigger his lethal right hand.
Every single pound had a purpose back then because Fury used his bulk masterfully. He smothered Wilder immediately after throwing punches. He disrupted every attempt to recover. He kept trapping Wilder in corners where mounting any counter was nearly impossible. It was relentless physical pressure from a guy focused on total control.
Joshua is a distinct challenge, yet the logic makes total sense. Giving Joshua breathing room allows him to set his feet to unleash heavy shots. Chasing him down can trigger panic before his offense even starts. Fury would immediately test Joshua’s nerves under fire.
The big worry is the condition of those 280 pounds. Fury reached 281 pounds for the rematch against Oleksandr Usyk, looking soft around the waist. That outing provided zero evidence that piling on weight makes him more dangerous.
To handle Joshua, Fury needs agile footwork to cut off escape routes. He needs sharp reflexes to slip incoming fire. He needs enough gas in the tank to keep pressing once the initial charge fades. If Joshua survives that opening assault, the extra pounds could become a heavy burden as the rounds accumulate.
Fury picked a blueprint with real history. Replicating the monster who conquered Wilder is the real challenge.
Boxing
Shakur Stevenson Analyzes Canelos Decision Victory Over Christian Mbilli for WBC Title
Published
10 hours agoon
November 2, 2026
Canelo Alvarez returned to the super-middleweight throne with a decision victory over Christian Mbilli on Saturday, and when summarising the performance, pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson made his thoughts on the display extremely clear.
At 36-years-old, off the back of both the longest inactive streak of his career and a defeat last time out, Canelo entered the Riyadh ring with many fight fans doubting whether the career of the Mexican superstar was nearing the end.
However, the four-division world champion instead recaptured the WBC super-middleweight title as he handed Mbilli a first career defeat.
Canelo’s experience, ring IQ and accuracy ultimately proving to be too much for the French-Cameroonian champion as he won a unanimous decision with scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110.
That performance has once again made Alvarez the man to beat in the 168lb scene, with each of his fellow world titleholders at the weight desperate to secure a lucrative unification opportunity on his mooted spring 2027 return.
Speaking shortly after witnessing the win, reigning WBO super-lightweight champion Stevenson took to X to praise the efforts of Canelo both on the night and across his career as a whole, labelling the veteran as both a ‘GOAT’ and a ‘legend’.
Canelo is a 🐐, Respect legend!! @canelo
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) November 1, 2026
“Canelo is a [GOAT]Respect legend!!! @canelo”
As far as what is next for Alvarez, it seems as though he will fight again in in either April or May for the final bout of his four-fight contract with Riyadh Season.
At present, Hamzah Sheeraz would likely be deemed as the frontrunnerif Terence Crawford refuses to comeback for the rematch.
Report: Jacqueline Cavalcanti vs. Michelle Montague postponed to UFC 335 on Dec. 12
Lester Martinez Aims for Canelo Alvarez with BoMacs Support
Tyson Fury Unleashes Wilder KO Strategy to Overcome Anthony Joshua
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