Boxing
Mike Tyson’s youngest heavyweight record – Patterson vs. Itauma debate heats up
Rising British heavyweight Moses Itauma may challenge Kubrat Pulev for the WBA Regular title in December 2025, with the goal of breaking Mike Tyson’s youngest heavyweight record and sparking debate about Floyd Patterson’s legacy.
The WBA has ordered Kubrat Pulev to defend his secondary crown against Itauma, opening the door to a potentially significant achievement for the rising British star – if negotiations are successful.
In the fight, which is likely to take place on December 13, 2025 in Manchester, Itauma will headline Derek Chisora’s farewell card if promoter Frank Warren manages to strike a deal with Pulev and Epic Sports.
However, even if Itauma secures the WBA Regular heavyweight belt two weeks before his 21st birthday, the feat could be controversial. Pulev is a minor champion, a title many fans and media consider diluted due to the WBA’s long-standing practice of recognizing multiple champions in one division.
History suggests that debate over whether Itauma’s achievement lives up to the validity of former heavyweight legends is inevitable.
Don King vs. Epic Sports: Pulev vs. Hunter Fallout
Promotor Don King nalegał, aby jego wcześniej ogłoszona walka pomiędzy Kubratem Pulewem a Michaelem Hunterem, która odbędzie się 4 października w Casino Miami, będzie kontynuowana. King vowed to take legal action against any party trying to block the fight, even though Hunter claimed he was in free agent status and was considering a match with Jarrell Miller during Canelo vs. Crawford fight week.
“They’re trying to destroy Michael Hunter’s career,” King said. “Epic Sports continues to spread lies and false statements. This fight will continue!”
Meanwhile, Pulev’s team at Epic Sports questioned the feasibility of the fight, highlighting growing promoter conflicts in heavyweight boxing. Epic Sports stwierdziło:
“Following the recent confirmation of Hunter’s fight against Jarrell Miller and the ongoing legal dispute with Don King Productions, the WBA has withdrawn the award. Pulev is no longer obligated to fight Hunter and is cleared to make his first title defense against any WBA-ranked challenger voluntarily.
King maintains his legendary reputation for fighting for the rights of his players, insisting the fight is not over yet, even though Pulev’s team has signaled it may take a different path.
The legal battle may still impact whether Moses Itauma gets crack, but even if he does, it will open another can of worms.
Itauma, who began his professional career in 2023, initially wanted to break Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight champion, but ran out of time. Jednak w sytuacji, gdy Pulew posiadał drugi tytuł WBA, każde kolejne zwycięstwo po nieudanej próbie bicia rekordu wywołałoby debatę na temat tego, czy osiągnięcie to zasługuje na historyczne porównanie.
If Itauma wins the WBA Regular title, he will be younger than Floyd Patterson, who won the NBA/NYSAC crown at the age of 21 years, 10 months and 26 days. Critics will argue that Pulev’s title shot lacks the prestige of the Tyson or Patterson era.
To nie jest wina Itaumy; that’s what happens when second-rate titles muddy the waters.
The WBA Regular heavyweight title has a checkered and controversial history. Since its inception in 2011, it has caused a stir among fans and boxers alike.
2011: Alexander Povetkin vs. Ruslan Chagaev punished for inaugural Regular title
2013: WBA allowed Wladimir Klitschko to unify the belts while keeping the regular title holders in the game
The following years: interim titles, legal disputes and multiple champions weakened the championship
WBN consistently reports on the tumultuous approach of the WBA. WBA zniosła tytuły tymczasowe dopiero po ujawnieniu zarzutów o stronnicze sędziowanie, jednak tytuły drugorzędne i regularne nadal się utrzymują, myląc porównania historyczne i postrzeganie fanów.
For comparison, here is a list of the youngest heavyweight champions.
1 | | WBC | 22 listopada 1986 | 20 lat, 4 miesiące, 23 dni
2 | Mojżesz Itauma | WBA Regular | 13 grudnia 2025 | 20 lat, 11 miesięcy, 17 dni
2 | | NBA, Fresh York | 30 listopada 1956 | 21 lat, 10 miesięcy, 26 dni
3 | | WBA, WBC | 25 lutego 1964 | 22 years, 8 days
4 | | NBA, Nowy Jork | 22 czerwca 1937 | 23 lata, 1 miesiąc, 9 dni
5 | | Liniowy | 4 lipca 1919 | 24 lata, 0 miesięcy, 10 dni
| WBA, WBC | 22 lutego 1973 | 24 lata, 0 miesięcy, 12 dni
| NYSAC | 4 marca 1968 | 24 lata, 1 miesiąc, 21 dni
8 | | Linear | 9 czerwca 1899 | 24 lata, 1 miesiąc, 25 dni
| WBA | December 10, 1982 | 24 lata i 4 miesiące
10 | | WBO | 14 października 2000 | 24 lata, 6 miesięcy, 19 dni
Gold champion: Michael Hunter
The debate over Itauma’s record is about more than statistics – it’s about credibility. Can a minor title legally rewrite history? WBN twierdzi, że odpowiedź nie jest prosta.
About the author
Phil Jay is with over obejmujące globalną scenę walki. How Since 2010, editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN).Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and the most crucial boxing evenings in the ring were reported.
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Bradley says Roach’s experience against pressure players and southpaws will give him an advantage on August 1
Tim Bradley thinks Lamont Roach Jr. he is the player best placed to make William Zepeda lose. In a speech on his YouTube channel, Bradley selected Roach as the winner of the vacant WBC lightweight title on August 1 and cited the fight’s stylistic advantages as a key factor.
“I’m picking Roach to win this fight,” Bradley said on his channel. “I think it’s a perfect match in style. I think Roach fights southpaws better than orthodox fighters.”
Roach comes into the fight coming off a draw with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and a contentious draw with Gervonta Davis, as well as two physically demanding fights against high-pressure fighters that Bradley says has prepared him for Zepeda’s relentless approach.
“I think he fought one of the best southpaws in the world in Tank Davis. And he did damn well against him,” Bradley said. “He wasn’t scared by the force of the impact.”
Bradley believes Roach has the tools needed to neutralize Zepeda’s pressure.
“When guys who like to get forward and be aggressive, nine times out of 10 they don’t like being tackled,” Bradley said. “Roach has the ability to do it. He has the knowledge and the IQ to be able to do it. And if he does it, he will win this fight.”
Bradley also cautioned that Roach cannot afford to leave matters in the judges’ hands, arguing that he needs to create more separation than in recent draws with Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis.
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Last update: 2026/06/13 at 14:20
Boxing
Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’
“There are a confined number of fights and he can’t fight every fighter. So why don’t you consider that [Iglesias and Sheeraz] think about who wants to be at the front of the line,” Kellerman said on InsideRingShow.
Kellerman rejected the idea that Canelo was firing any of the fighters.
“He’s not saying he’s ignoring Sheeraz and Iglesias. In fact, he just gave them a path. He said, ‘I’m fighting Mbilli.’ You are fighting each other. This is not a duck. This is about business,” Kellerman said.
Sheeraz has already made it clear that he has no interest in following the route proposed by Canelo. Responding to a suggestion from an earlier interview, the British fighter said he respected Alvarez but would not allow another boxer to dictate his career decisions.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could answer many of the remaining questions about both men.
Canelo is preparing to fight Mbilli, a fighter widely viewed as one of the most threatening fighters in the division due to his constant pressure and furious attacks. Meanwhile, Sheeraz has had two fights since moving up to 168 pounds, a fight against Edgar Berlanga, who he stopped in July 2025 after Canelo had already beaten him a year earlier, and 39-year-old Al Begic for the vacant WBO title.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could eliminate many of the questions that still haunt both men. Sheeraz would have the opportunity to silence critics who believe his super middleweight resume is slim, while Iglesias could reaffirm a growing reputation that has led some fans to consider him the division’s boogeyman.
The winner would pose a bigger and more marketable challenge. Instead of facing Sheeraz immediately after his victory over Begic, Alvarez could face an opponent who had a decisive victory over another world champion, adding more significance to what could be one of the final marquee fights of his career.
Max Kellerman reacts to Canelo Álvarez’s comments about Hamzah Sheeraz and Osleys Iglesias 👀#InsideTheRing | The latest episode LIVE NOW on YouTube The Ring 📺 pic.twitter.com/tfOhDtjgit
— InsideRingShow (@InsideRingShow) June 12, 2026
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