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Oleksandr Usyk gives verdict on Moses Itauma as Turki Alalshikh pitches massive showdown

Literally everybody is raving about British heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma – even the best fighter on the planet right now.

Oleksandr Usyk is not only the undisputed world heavyweight champion right for the second time in just over a year, he is also the consensus P4P top fighter in the world in any division.

JUST IN: VIDEOS: Terence Crawford’s smashed greatest rival to achieve his

The 38-year-old has clearly been watching the rise of the 20-year-old Itauma as the phenom from Chatham in Kent continues to build towards the top level.

READ MORE: Moses Itauma SCHOOLS critics with genius response over ‘chin check’

‘Enriko’, as he is known, has built a 12-0 professional record with 10 of those wins coming inside the first two rounds. One devastating highlight reel finish after another.

Itauma is already ranked number 1 by the WBO (World Boxing Organization) and a world title shot appears to be on the cards sooner rather than later. When Usyk flattened Daniel Dubois last month to become undisputed, Saudi power broker Turki Alalshikh was quick to suggest that a showdown with Itauma is THE FIGHT that boxing wants and needs.

Itauma himself has been quick to suggest that his skillset is on a par with Usyk or better, but admits he needs more rounds and experience to get that championship level of endurance and mindset.

Usyk on Moses Itauma

As for Usyk, he is clearly very very impressed by the young prodigy, who mixes devastating speed and power with a remarkable ring IQ for one so young.

He told talkSPORT: “Moses Itauma. I think he is a great fighter. Young, 20 years, yes? I think Itauma has a big future.”

It remains to be seen whether that future includes a blockbusting showdown vs Usyk, but before that Moses will take a big step up in class when he meets former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in a crossroads matchup in Riyadh next Saturday night (August 16).

Itauma will start a hot favourite against a man who just three years ago was challenging Tyson Fury for the WBC heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium. Now at the age of 37, and relatively inactive since that night, there are question marks about what Whyte has left.

We will find out the answer to that question in a few days, but many expect him to give Itauma his biggest test yet.

BOXING

VIDEOS: Terence Crawford’s smashed greatest rival to achieve his

Terence Crawford’s smashed greatest rival to achieve historic feat since replicated by two legendary fighters

On September 13, two of the very best of their era will meet for the first time.

While Terence Crawford has admitted that both he and Canelo Alvarez need to step it up ahead of their clash next month, the fight is still absolutely massive.

Unlike his opponent, ‘Bud’ brings an undefeated record to the ring, with 41 wins (31 via knockout) since making his pro debut in 2008.

JUST IN: Gervonta Davis Names The Only Fighter Whose Power

Crawford may have earned just $125,000 for his first major win, but he’s come a long way since initially putting himself on the map by beating Breidis Prescott.

In a fight where some expected that he would finally meet his equal, the Nebraska native proved a lot of people wrong by putting on a historic masterclass.

Terence Crawford became the first two-weight undisputed champion when he outclassed Errol Spence Jr.

For many years, one of the fights that was right at the top of a lot of fans’ wish list was Terence Crawford taking on Errol Spence Jr.

With the fight seemingly being spoken about and negotiated for long periods of time without coming to fruition, it looked like this huge clash may end up going down as a huge bout that got away due to boxing politics.

Eventually, they met inside the ring on July 29 of 2023, where despite his opponent’s long periods of inactivity in recent times due to several health issues, no one could have expected what Crawford would go on to do.

‘Bud’ produced what many believe is the best performance of his career by outclassing Spence Jr. before he stopped him in the ninth round.

Having won the WBA, WBC, IBF and the vacant The Ring belt in the process, adding to his WBO title, Crawford made history with this victory as the first fighter in the ‘four belt era’ to become undisputed in two weight classes.

After he accomplished this feat at both light welterweight and welterweight, two other fighters who are right at the top of the pound-for-pound list with Crawford have gone on to do the same.

Naoya Inoue achieved this at bantamweight and super bantamweight with just one year separating the two accomplishments.

Oleksandr Usyk also wrote his name into the history books when he replicated his incredible run at cruiserweight by beating Tyson Fury for the first time in May of 2024 to claim the WBC heavyweight title.

Terence Crawford admitted feeling relieved after putting his rivalry with Errol Spence Jr. to bed

Terence Crawford has never been the most animated fighter when it comes to reading his emotions before, after, or during a fight.

In an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, he spoke about how some people claimed that he didn’t look happy after beating Errol Spence Jr.

He responded to this by claiming that after chasing the fight for such a long time, he was both happy and relieved to have finally moved past this chapter.

“When you go in the back room, everybody wants to see excitement. I was just like, ‘Ah, I got that off my back.’ It was a sign of relief.”

Even if he emerges victorious in another legacy-defining fight on September 13, fans can expect to see the same calm and collected Crawford that they’re used to.

BOXING

Gervonta Davis Names The Only Fighter Whose Power

Gervonta Davis Names The Only Fighter Whose Power Had Him In Trouble

Gervonta Davis has revealed the only fighter to have ever caused him some trouble in the ring.

The unbeaten 30-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland currently reigns as the WBA lightweight champion, a title he has held since he defeated Yuriorkis Gamboa back in December of 2019.

Aside from reigning as a world champion at 135lbs, ‘Tank’ has also captured world titles at super-featherweight and super-lightweight, defeating the likes of Leo Santa Cruz, Isaac Cruz and Ryan Garcia along the way.

JUST IN: Joshua Accused of ‘Selling His Soul’ Amid

He came very close to being handed the first defeat of his career back in March when he fought to a majority decision draw against fellow countryman Lamont Roach, although many fans and analysts believed the challenger had done more than enough to get his hand raised.

Speaking to the media just before his controversial showdown with Roach, Davis paid homage to the punching power of former rival Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, as he claims the 29-year-old has ‘bricks in his hands’.

“I ain’t gonna lie, Rolly hit hard, people are sleeping on Rolly. He hasn’t got a chin so Rolly gets caught but he can hit. He’s the only person I have felt, when he swung it felt like there were bricks in his hands.”

Davis handed ‘Rolly’ the first defeat of his career when they clashed back in May of 2022, stopping his rival in the sixth round of their bout at the Barclays Center in New York City.

Since facing Davis, Romero has made the move up to welterweight where he picked up the best win of his career earlier this year, defeating Ryan Garcia to capture the regular version of the WBA world welterweight title on May 2.

BOXING

Joshua Accused of ‘Selling His Soul’ Amid

Joshua Accused of ‘Selling His Soul’ Amid Jake Paul Fight Talks

Anthony Joshua has been accused of ‘selling his soul’ as talk over a potential fight with Jake Paul heats up.

Joshua is looking for his next opponent after having been knocked out by Daniel Dubois in his last fight. Prior to the fight, Joshua expressed his desire to become a three-weight world champion as the IBF belt was up for grabs. Joshua has undergone elbow surgery after picking up an injury following the Dubois fight, as the attention turns to his next fight. Joshua had been vocal about his desire to fight Tyson Fury, but the latter’s retirement means that is now off the table.

Joshua has previously boxed Francis Ngannou, knocking him out in the second round. The fight was questioned since Ngannou only had one fight before this, losing to Tyson Fury in a split decision. However, facing Paul races further questions. Paul’s resume is filled mostly with wins against non-pro boxers, losing to Tommy Fury, the first pro boxer he faced. Paul is also coming off a unanimous decision win against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. While Paul fight will no doubt earn Joshua a massive payday, former UFC fighter Molly McCann has accused AJ of selling out.

READ: Jake Paul scores first blood in Gervonta Davis

“I’m not here for it. He’s selling his soul for money, do you know what I mean? It’s like what, lad, have you not got enough? […] Turn it in lad. Why don’t we just leave this stuff alone?,” McCann said

Consequences

The long-term consequence of this could be damning. If top fighters are consistently choosing these “gimmick” fights over challenging contenders, it devalues world titles and makes the path to becoming a champion less meaningful. A fight with Paul, no matter the financial gain, does nothing to enhance Joshua’s legacy.

A fight between Joshua and Paul also raises serious concerns about fighter safety. While Paul has been a consistent presence in boxing for a few years, he is still a developing fighter with a limited skillset compared to a two-time former unified heavyweight champion. Joshua is a power-punching heavyweight with an Olympic gold medal and years of experience at the highest level of professional boxing. Paul, by contrast, has been knocking out people who are not, and were never, professional boxers.

The potential fight also creates a problematic narrative for boxing’s future. The rise of social media influencers in boxing, however, shifts the focus from the sport itself to the personalities involved. Instead of drawing fans in with the promise of a classic showdown between two of the best heavyweights, a Joshua-Paul fight markets itself on the notoriety of one fighter and the star power of the other. It reduces boxing to a celebrity event.

BOXING

VIDEOS: Moses Itauma Hopes To Follow Floyd Mayweather’s P

Moses Itauma Hopes To Follow Floyd Mayweather’s Path; Not Focused On Oleksandr Usyk

Perhaps no boxer left a better blueprint for how to navigate their career better than Floyd Mayweather Jr., a five-division champion, 2021 International Boxing Hall of Famer and box-office gold mine.

Rapidly ascending heavyweight contender Moses Itauma hopes he can say that he followed the same path as Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs), ahead of his fight against Dillian Whyte on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on DAZN PPV.

Tony Bellew Didn't Hesitate When Asked If Moses Itauma Is Ready To Dethrone Oleksandr Usyk - Seconds Out

JUST IN: Terence Crawford Reveals Future Plans Before $200M

“He made a lot of money in this sport, came out with his brains intact, no damage and whatnot and nobody can say, ‘Yeah, I [beat] him up,” Itauma told The Ring’s Louis Hart. “That’s the career that I want. When people are insecure about themselves, they put a little doubt, a little bit of pressure on someone, hoping that they’re going to break because it makes them feel better.

“With Floyd Mayweather, he was such a good fighter. [He was] 50-0, people are insecure about that. People don’t want to accept that reality, so they put a bit of doubt and pressure on Floyd Mayweather to get him to crack just so they can feel better. I don’t look at it from that perspective. I look at it like, ‘Wow, he’s achieved a lot.'”

Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs) has quickly asserted himself as one of boxing’s best heavyweight prospects in recent memory with his dynamic speed, skill and power and can take a significant step in his development with a win over Whyte. The 20-year-old has won eight consecutive fights by stoppage, all of which have come inside the first two rounds.

Whyte (31-3, 21 KOs), though, is by far the most significant test of Itauma’s career. He has fought for the heavyweight title and has shared the ring with some of the better heavyweights in the world when he fought them before his sixth-round stoppage loss to Tyson Fury in April 2022. Whyte has won three straight fights since that defeat, though, the level of competition was subpar.

In his last fight, Whyte, 37, stopped Ebenezer Tetteh after the seventh round on Dec. 15.

Itauma, who is a 6-foot-4 1/2 southpaw and is ranked No. 1 (WBO), No. 2 (WBA), No. 6 (IBF) and No. 11 (WBC), could be in a position for a world title shot with an impressive win Saturday. That title shot, if it came to fruition in the near future, could come against undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs).

His Excellency Turki Alalshikh hasn’t been bashful about his intentions to make Usyk vs. Itauma should he get past Whyte. For Itauma, though, a chance to face the best heavyweight of this generation for all of the belts is the last thing on his mind.

“I’m not thinking about it,” Itauma said. “I’m not [thinking], ‘I wish that could happen’ because right now, I’ve got a serious contender like Dillian Whyte in front of me, but after, maybe.”

BOXING

Terence Crawford Reveals Future Plans Before $200M

Terence Crawford Reveals Future Plans Before $200M Canelo Alvarez Fight

Over a year ago, Terence Crawford made his 154-pound debut. In the lead-up to the Israil Madrimov bout, talks of a showdown with Canelo Alvarez had begun to swirl.

So during a catch-up with Crawford’s trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, Marcos Villegas got ahead of himself and asked, “If you guys win this, the undisputed titles at 68?” The award-winning trainer responded, “We could all can retire from that; after that, you know what I’m saying, we can retire after that, and we just sit back and do what you doing.” Twelve months later, the fight — perhaps the decade’s biggest — is just around the corner.

Only a few weeks remain before Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez settle the debate at Allegiant Stadium. Yet one question still lingers: what will the two best pound-for-pound boxers in the world do after September 13? Canelo, at just 35, is likely to continue for some time. It’s Crawford most people seem to worry about. A fortnight after the match, he will turn 38. Considering the mouthwatering split of the $200 million purse, some might think Crawford will call it a day.

JUST IN: Jake Paul scores first blood in Gervonta Davis

After all, he told Piers Morgan, “I always say I was going to retire from boxing. I wasn’t going to let boxing retire me.” But it seems the Nebraskan isn’t shy about entertaining other options.

Yesterday, Pro Boxing Fans shared a comment from Terence Crawford. “@tbudcrawford on what the future may hold after @canelo 🔮,” their caption read. So according to Crawford, he isn’t rushing into anything at the moment. It’s “one fight at a time,” he stated.

It largely depends on the outcome of the Canelo match. There’s a good chance he might move back to 154 pounds; Crawford currently holds the light-middleweight WBA belt. “Maybe I’ll go back down to 154. And try to become undisputed,” he said. There is another option. A rematch with Canelo. To sum it up, everything is still up in the air.

“Right now we’re just focused on the task at hand, and that’s Canelo,” Terence Crawford made clear. To set the record straight, he expressed similar thoughts during a fan Q&A in Sydney, Australia. Not looking beyond the Canelo fight, he said, “I don’t eat before my food on my table. So, right now, I’m at 168 to fight Canelo. And that’s the only thing I’m thinking about right now.”

In a previous instance, Crawford spoke about a move back to 154 pounds.

The 154-pound landscape and Terence Crawford

With the likes of Bakhram Murtazaliev, Sebastian Fundora, Vergil Ortiz Jr., and now Xander Zayas leading the pack, light middleweight has become boxing’s most stacked and exciting division. Two years ago, Terence Crawford humbled Errol Spence Jr. to unify all four belts in the welterweight division.

Win or lose against Canelo, he could scale down from 168 and first face one of the reigning champions for title unification. Fans might recall. Amid the talks for the Canelo fight, a matchup between Crawford and WBC champion Sebastian Fundora, who also held the WBO title at the time, appeared on the horizon. But it quickly fizzled out.

But considering his age and achievements, which include a guaranteed Hall of Fame career, a few believe Crawford could step down and hang up the gloves. Floyd Mayweather’s uncle, former super featherweight titleholder turned trainer Jeff Mayweather, opined, “I think if he beats Canelo, I think that’ll be enough for him.”

Perhaps what Crawford said remains the most sensible course of action. Take things one at a time and stay focused on the task ahead, rather than worrying about the future.

BOXING

Jake Paul scores first blood in Gervonta Davis

Jake Paul scores first blood in Gervonta Davis rivalry

Topps has unveiled its first boxing trading card set since 1951. However, the debut has already ignited fierce debate among fans after the company included Jake Paul and suddenly removed Gervonta Davis.

Paul has made a habit out of facing past-their-best combat stars from boxing and UFC, pushing to a 12-1 ledger and losing to the only real prime boxer he ever faced, Tommy Fury.

JUST IN: Anthony Joshua could earn himself a whopping £100m for

Davis, meanwhile, has out-of-the-ring problems, ring inactivity, and a recent jail term behind him, which Topps obviously wouldn’t elaborate on in its announcement.

Topps Boxing Card Controversy
The company confirmed, “Our first boxing trading card set since 1951 is here.

“Topps Chrome Boxing features legends, rookies, and stars, and is the first boxing release in history to be officially licensed by multiple boxing promotions.”

The set is available for pre-order on August 11.

They added, “UPDATE: Gervonta Davis will not be included in this collection.”

The official checklist now confirms the appearance of Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Tyson Fury, and Jake Paul among the headline names. Top Rank has also revealed their fighters will feature, with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions yet to confirm.

No Reason Given
The image of Davis’s gold-framed “1/1” autographed card, part of early promotional material, confirms Topps initially slated the Baltimore fighter to appear before being dropped.

WBN has reached out to Topps and PBC to see if the decision to remove Davis has any bearing on the likes of Manny Pacquiao and David Benavidez featuring in the collection.

While Topps did not cite a reason for the change, the decision comes as Davis faces an August 12 court date following a string of legal issues and arrests.

JUST IN: Our first boxing set since 1951 is here.

Topps Chrome Boxing features legends, rookies & stars, and is the first boxing release in history to be officially licensed by multiple boxing promotions.

Available for pre-order on August 11. pic.twitter.com/0O4qvwADBU

— Topps (@Topps) August 7, 2025

Fan Reaction
Fan reaction to the Paul vs Davis (who once called each other out) situation, in which the YouTuber scored first blood, was swift and heated on social media.

“Why did you put Jake Paul in it? Be for real. Not a serious group,” said one regarding the influencer boxer’s ‘Hidden Gems’ card.

Another added, “This was great until I saw the Jake Paul card. He’s not a real boxer; he doesn’t even fight boxers.”

“So you drop Tank but keep Jake? Wild,” stated a third.

With Davis gone and Paul in, the launch of Topps Chrome Boxing is already shaping up to be one of the most controversial trading card releases in recent sports history.

BOXING

Anthony Joshua could earn himself a whopping £100m for

Anthony Joshua could earn himself a whopping £100m for fighting Jake Paul, according to boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.

In March, Paul called out AJ on his podcast ‘BS w/ Jake Paul’, stating: “I want to fight Anthony Joshua – exclusive – because I know I will f***ing beat Anthony Joshua’s ass.

“He doesn’t have a chin, and he has no skill and he’s stiff. I love you Anthony, we’e friends, all this s*** but I want to fight you.”

READ: Anthony Joshua promoter explains why Jake Paul clash would be…

And Joshua called Paul’s bluff by phoning the YouTube later that day, adding fuel to the fire as he posted on his Instagram a shot of his call with Paul and the caption “2026”.

Hearn also revealed AJ is on board for a fight with Paul, stating: “I spoke to AJ shortly after and I mean, look, we don’t own the world heavyweight championship anymore. We’re not chasing undisputed.

“That’s always been the dream and will remain the dream until the career ends, but at the same time, we haven’t even got an opponent.

“So when Jake Paul comes out and you know you’re gonna make £100million to fight Jake Paul, obviously like any man with a brain would go, ‘Oh, OK, line it up.’”

Paul frontrunner to face AJ

On Friday, Hearn spoke up over the idea of the pair getting in the ring together, telling Sky Sports News: “I think Jake Paul is absolutely the frontrunner to fight Anthony Joshua next. I’m here in New York for meetings about the fight, there’s an open dialogue between myself and MVP.

“I don’t know what to tell you other than it’s mental. I can’t sit here and tell you that this is a 50/50 match. The whole thing is bizarre, I think it’s extremely dangerous for Jake Paul.

“The general feedback is that the boxing world is say ‘Please AJ, go in there and evaporate this young man from the boxing world so we can all get on as normal’.”

With such a vast amount of money to be made on a fight between the pair, this would take Joshua closer to his ‘billionaire’ dream.

In an interview with GQ in 2017, the former Olympian said: “When I first started, the aim was to become a multimillionaire. But now there are ordinary people, grandmas and granddads, who are worth millions just because of property prices.

“So the new school of thought is that I need to be a billionaire. Being a millionaire is good, but you have to set your sights higher.”

Joshua and Paul net worth revealed

Latest estimates put Joshua’s net worth at £195m according to the Sunday Times Rich List published earlier this year, though Forbes has this figure at $83m (£61.7m).

In addition, from endorsement deals alone in the world of boxing, Joshua was actually level with Paul.

Paul’s net worth, meanwhile, is estimated to be between $100m and $120m (£74.5m and £89.2m) however, Forbes suggest his net worth is closer to $50m (£37.2m).

Earlier this weekend, TV personality Piers Morgan moved to clarify his comments that Paul’s fights were staged after the boxer sought legal counsel following the Brit’s claims.

BOXING

Deontay Wilder Catches Strays as Canelo-Crawford

By Admin August 9, 2025

Deontay Wilder Catches Strays as Canelo-Crawford Undercard in Jeopardy After Heavyweight Pull Out

Jarrell Miller threw a single stone — which seems to have hit two birds at the same time. The Brooklyn-born heavyweight, currently ranked sixth on the WBA roster, went on an unfiltered rant. Clips of him slamming fellow heavyweights Jared Anderson and Deontay Wilder have been steadily gaining attention. According to Miller, while Anderson pulled out of a fight, Wilder is actively avoiding one.

For now, there have been no official statements confirming Jarrell Miller’s claims. The heavyweight, whose career hit a major roadblock due to a doping controversy, gradually clawed his way back into the divisional standings. A knockout loss to Daniel Dubois served as a rude awakening. But a draw against former champion Andy Ruiz Jr. helped him remain in contention. Reports suggested a fight between Miller and Jared Anderson, who has been dealing with his own set of challenges, could feature on next month’s Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez undercard. If Miller’s claims are true, fans may miss out on what could have been an intriguing thriller.

JUST IN: WATCH: Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis Coach Addresses Rumored

Jarrell Miller posted two videos. One taking potshots at Jared Anderson, and the other mocking Deontay Wilder. “😱 OMG @jaredanderson419 Pulled out of the fight, @bronzebomber is still softer than baby shit,” read the caption on his post. Speaking from inside his car, Miller appeared relaxed and composed.

“Jared Anderson has pulled out of the fight. We all see it coming though,” Jarrell Miller said. According to him, there appears to be some discontent within Anderson’s promoters, Top Rank. Taunting the young heavyweight for “getting high,” Miller added that a search for Anderson’s replacement is already underway. “Ain’t going to lie, I’m sick right now, but you kind of figured Jared was going to pull that sh*t,” he said.

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A post shared by JARRELL KHALID BIGBABY MILLER (@bigbabymiller)

But Jarrell Miller wasn’t finished. It appears there was an attempt to line up Deontay Wilder for a fight. However, according to Miller, the former heavyweight champion pulled out. Wilder, for his part, reportedly felt that Miller was too disrespectful and brash. So responding to that, Miller said, “If you had a problem with what I was saying, get in the ring and punch in my face. Get in the ring and try to knock me out.”

However, Jarrell Miller seems certain that Deontay Wilder will not accept a fight with him on the Crawford-Canelo undercard.

Jarrell Miller’s war of words

For now, fans may have to take Miller’s words for what they are — just claims. As Ring Magazine reported, Turki Alalshikh had expressed interest in a super middleweight bout between interim champion Christian Mbilli and Lester Martinez to feature alongside the proposed Miller-Anderson clash on the Crawford-Canelo undercard.

The other day, Miller raised several eyebrows when he claimed to have the key to solving the Usyk puzzle. “I would run him over. Usyk has a problem with guys who put their chin down and want to bang out,” he’s reported to have said recently.

Still, a fight between Jarrell Miller and Jared Anderson, or, for that matter, Deontay Wilder, would have been an exciting addition to the September 13 card at Allegiant Stadium. Given his flair for hyperbole, Miller would likely have helped boost the hype.