Don’t compare Itauma to Tyson — Lewis News

Navigation: Home / News / Boxing / Don’t compare Itauma to Tyson — Lewis

Don’t compare Itauma to Tyson — Lewis

By Daily Sports Nigeria on March 5, 2026

Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has cautioned against comparing British-Nigerian sensation Moses Itauma to the legendary Mike Tyson, insisting the 21-year-old deserves to be treated as his own man.

Former world heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Tyson

Itauma has drawn frequent comparisons to “Iron Mike” owing to his explosive power, aggressive style and rapid rise through the professional ranks, but Lewis believes such talk does the youngster no favours.

“I don’t think Itauma should be compared to Tyson, he’s nowhere near ‘Iron Mike.’ Moses is his own brand. He’s a great young fighter with a lot of potential. There’s no need to rush him, he needs to be handled carefully,” Lewis said.

Itauma, who was born in Slovakia to a Nigerian father and Slovak mother before relocating to Chatham, Kent, turned professional in January 2023 and has since posted 13 consecutive victories, 11 by knockout, nine of them inside the first two rounds.

The highlight of his career came in August 2025, when he demolished former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in one round to claim the Commonwealth heavyweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

His promoter Frank Warren has identified a world title shot in 2026 as a realistic target if Itauma comes through his next assignment — a March 28 bout against experienced American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester, rescheduled from January following a bicep injury.

“I feel that if Moses comes through this fight, I think he sets himself up for fighting for a world title before the end of the year — maybe even becoming the youngest Brit to ever win a world title,” Warren told talkSPORT.

Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr shares the optimism but echoes Lewis’s note of caution.

“He could be the next dominant force for sure, as long as he doesn’t get moved too fast,” Jones said.

Itauma was voted The Ring magazine’s 2024 Prospect of the Year.

Source Punch Ng

Posted March 5, 2026