Heavyweight Hype: Moses Itauma's Knockout Impact and Future Fight Speculation
The boxing world is abuzz with recent fight results and updated divisional rankings, highlighted by the meteoric rise of heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma. The 20-year-old phenom delivered a stunning first-round knockout victory over the experienced Dillian Whyte in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on August 16. Itauma, now boasting an impressive professional record of 14 wins with 12 knockouts and no losses, dispatched 'The Body Snatcher' in under two minutes, marking his eighth first-round finish and arguably his most significant win to date. Whyte, 37, a formidable opponent who had previously only lost to world champions and had never been stopped so quickly, proved to be no match for Itauma's concussive power and precise striking. This dominant performance has propelled Itauma significantly up the heavyweight rankings, now sitting at No. 8.
Following his triumph, Itauma, a 6-foot-4 southpaw who represents England, expressed his readiness for any challenge, naming top contenders like Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel as potential future opponents. He stated his ambition to fight for a world title, confident in his abilities and acknowledging his youth with potentially 10 to 15 years left in his career. The WBO's No. 1 contender (as claimed by Itauma), his progress is notably ahead of other prominent English heavyweights such as Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Daniel Dubois at the same age. Even Tyson Fury lauded Itauma, predicting that the young fighter would "wreck all them all old men out of the division," including Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua, and others, emphasizing that "boxing is a young man's game."
The Riyadh fight card also featured other significant bouts. Nick Ball, with a record of 23-0-1 (13 KOs), successfully retained his WBA featherweight title, securing a unanimous decision victory over Sam Goodman. The scores of 118-110, 117-111, and 115-113, while wide, belied the competitive nature of the fight, with Ball's power punching proving decisive in the later rounds. He holds firm as ESPN's No. 1 featherweight. In another heavyweight clash, Filip Hrgovic (19-1, 14 KOs) overcame a severe cut on his left eyelid to defeat David Adeleye by decision, a bout that included a memorable eighth round where both fighters exchanged heavy blows. Hrgovic's win solidifies his position at No. 7 in the heavyweight division. Additionally, Ray Ford (18-1-1, 8 KOs) secured a unanimous decision over Abraham Nova, marking his third consecutive win at junior lightweight since his WBA featherweight title loss to Ball, positioning him closer to a title shot at No. 4 in his division.
In the broader landscape of professional boxing, undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs), who recently defeated Tyson Fury in a rematch and previously secured a fifth-round knockout over Daniel Dubois, faces a WBO mandatory challenge from Joseph Parker. Usyk's team has indicated that the champion has earned the right to choose his next fight and needs time to recover from a punishing schedule and injuries, requesting an extension to the 30-day negotiation period for the Parker fight. Should Usyk opt to vacate, Parker would then contend for the vacant title.
ESPN's updated divisional boxing rankings, reflecting recent results and performances, are detailed as follows:
HEAVYWEIGHT (UNLIMITED)
1. Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) - Last: W (KO5) Daniel Dubois, July 19
2. Tyson Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) - Last: L (UD12) Oleksandr Usyk, Dec. 21
3. Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) - Last: L (KO5) Oleksandr Usyk, July 19
4. Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) - Last: W (TKO2) Martin Bakole, Feb. 22
5. Agit Kabayel (26-0, 18 KOs) - Last: W (KO6) Zhilei Zhang, Feb. 22
6. Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) - Last: L (KO5) Daniel Dubois, Sept. 21
7. Filip Hrgovic (19-1, 14 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) David Adeleye, Aug. 16
8. Moses Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) - Last: W (TKO1) Dillian Whyte, Aug. 16
9. Zhilei Zhang (27-3-1, 22 KOs) - Last: L (KO6) Agit Kabayel, Feb. 22
10. Fabio Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) - Last: W (KO10) Justis Huni, Aug. 3
Editor's note: Andy Ruiz Jr. has been removed for inactivity.
CRUISERWEIGHT (UP TO 200 POUNDS)
1. Jai Opetaia (28-0, 22 KOs) - Last: W (KO5) Claudio Squeo, June 8
2. Gilberto Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Yuniel Dorticos, June 28
3. Chris Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Brandon Glanton, April 26
4. Badou Jack (29-3-3, 17 KOs) - Last: W (MD12) Norair Mikaeljan, May 3
5. Norair Mikaeljan (27-3, 12 KOs) - Last: L (MD12) Badou Jack, May 3
6. Aleksei Papin (19-1, 17 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Miljan Rovcanin, July 19
7. Michal Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) - Last: W (TKO4) Jean Pascal, June 28
8. Ryan Rozicki (20-1-1, 19 KOs) - Last: D (Majority draw 12) Yamil Peralta, Dec. 7
9. Yamil Peralta (17-1-1, 9 KOs) - Last: D (Majority draw 12) Ryan Rozicki, Dec. 7
10. Leonardo Mosquea (16-0, 9 KOs) - Last: W (SD12) Cheavon Clarke, Dec. 14
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 175 POUNDS)
1. Dmitry Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) - Last: W (MD12) Artur Beterbiev, Feb. 22
2. Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) - Last: L (MD12) Dmitry Bivol, Feb. 22
3. David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) David Morrell Jr., Feb. 1
4. Callum Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Joshua Buatsi, Feb. 22
5. David Morrell Jr. (12-1, 9 KOs) - Last: W (SD12) Imam Khataev, July 12
6. Imam Khataev (10-1, 9 KOs) - Last: L (SD10) David Morrell Jr., July 12
7. Joshua Buatsi (19-1, 13 KOs) - Last: L (UD12) Callum Smith, Feb. 22
8. Anthony Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Lyndon Arthur, April 26
9. Oleksandr Gvozdyk (21-2, 17 KOs) - Last: W (KO3) Anthony Hollaway, April 19
10. Albert Ramirez (20-0, 17 KOs) - Last: W (TKO3) Marko Calic, Feb. 6
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 168 POUNDS)
1. Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) William Scull, May 3
2. Christian Mbilli (29-0, 24 KOs) - Last: W (TKO1) Maciej Sulecki, June 27
3. Diego Pacheco (24-0, 18 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Trevor McCumby, July 19
4. Hamzah Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) - Last: W (KO5) Edgar Berlanga, July 12
5. Jermall Charlo (34-0, 23 KOs) - Last: W (TKO6) Thomas LaManna, May 31
6. Edgar Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs) - Last: L (KO5) Hamzah Sheeraz, July 12
7. Jose Armando Resendiz (16-2, 11 KOs) - Last: W (SD12) Caleb Plant, May 31
8. Caleb Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) - Last: L (SD12) Jose Armando Resendiz, March 31
9. Bektemir Melikuziev (16-1, 10 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Darius Fulghum, May 30
10. Bruno Surace (26-1-2, 5 KOs) - Last: L (UD12) Jaime Munguia, May 3
Editor's note: Jaime Munguia has been removed after testing positive for a banned substance.
MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 160 POUNDS)
1. Janibek Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) - Last: W (TKO5) Anauel Ngamissengue, April 5
2. Carlos Adames (24-1-1, 18 KOs) - Last: D (Split draw 12) Hamzah Sheeraz, Feb. 22
3. Erislandy Lara (31-3-3, 19 KOs) - Last: W (TKO9) Danny Garcia, Sept. 14
4. Chris Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Conor Benn, April 26
5. Conor Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) - Last: L (UD12) Chris Eubank Jr., April 26
6. Anauel Ngamissengue (14-1, 9 KOs) - Last: L (TKO5) Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, April 5
7. Etinosa Oliha (21-0, 9 KOs) - Last: W (TKO3) Alexander Pavlov, Sept. 14
8. Fiodor Czerkaszyn (26-1, 16 KOs) - Last: W (TKO2) Patrick Allotey, Feb. 1
9. Yoenli Hernandez (19-3-1, 6 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Kyrone Davis, May 31
10. Troy Isley (15-0, 5 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Etoundi Michel William, June 7
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 154 POUNDS)
1. Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Israil Madrimov, Aug. 3
2. Vergil Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Israil Madrimov, Feb. 22
3. Sebastian Fundora (23-1-1, 14 KOs) - Last: W (TKO8) Tim Tszyu, July 19
4. Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) - Last: W (TKO3) Tim Tszyu, Oct 19
5. Xander Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Jose Garcia Perez, July 26
6. Israil Madrimov (10-2-1, 7 KOs) - Last: L (UD12) Vergil Ortiz Jr., Feb. 22
7. Tim Tszyu (25-3, 18 KOs) - Last: L (TKO8) Sebastian Fundora, July 19
8. Serhii Bohachuk (26-2, 24 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Mykal Fox, May 17
9. Keith Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) - Last: W (TKO3) Brock Jarvis, March 12
10. Jesus Ramos Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs) - Last: W (TKO7) Guido Emmanuel Schramm, March 22
WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 147 POUNDS)
1. Jaron Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) - Last: W (TKO6) Eimantas Stanionis, April 12
2. Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) - Last: W (KO5) Jin Sasaki, June 19
3. Mario Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) - Last: Draw (Majority draw 12) Manny Pacquiao, July 19
4. Eimantas Stanionis (15-1, 9 KOs) - Last: L (TKO6) Jaron Ennis, April 12
5. Devin Haney (32-0-1 NC, 15 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Jose Ramirez, May 2
6. Manny Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) - Last: Draw (Majority draw 12) Mario Barrios, July 19
7. Shakhram Giyasov (17-0, 10 KOs) - Last: W (KO4) Franco Ocampo, April 12
8. Giovani Santillan (34-1, 18 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Angel Beltran, May 10
9. Rolando Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Ryan Garcia, May 2
10. Souleymane Cissokho (17-0, 9 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Egidijus Kavaliauskas, May 10
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 140 POUNDS)
1. Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Arnold Barboza Jr., May 2
2. Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) - Last: W (TKO8) George Kambosos Jr., June 14
3. Liam Paro (26-1, 16 KOs) - Last: W (TKO5) Jonathan Navarro, June 25
4. Subriel Matias (23-2, 22 KOs) - Last: W (MD12) Alberto Puello, July 12
5. Alberto Puello (24-1, 10 KOs) - Last: L (MD12) Subriel Matias, July 12
6. Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Jose Valenzuela, March 1
7. Arnold Barboza Jr. (31-2, 11 KOs) - Last: L (UD12) Teofimo Lopez, May 2
8. Sandor Martin (42-4, 15 KOs) - Last: L (SD12) Alberto Puello, March 1
9. Andy Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs) - Last: W (TKO9) Ismael Barroso, Sept. 3
10. Dalton Smith (18-0, 13 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Mathieu Germain, April 25
LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 135 POUNDS)
1. Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) William Zepeda, July 12
2. Gervonta Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) - Last: Draw (Majority draw 12) Lamont Roach, March 1
3. Keyshawn Davis (13-0, 9 KOs) - Last: W (KO4) Denys Berinchyk, Feb. 14
4. William Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) - Last: L (UD12) Shakur Stevenson, July 12
5. Lamont Roach (25-1-2 10 KOs) - Last: Draw (Majority draw 12) Gervonta Davis, March 1
6. Andy Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) - Last: W (TKO5) Hironori Mishiro, June 14
7. Raymond Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Zaur Abdullaev, May 10
8. Frank Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) - Last: L (KO8) Gervonta Davis, June 15
9. Floyd Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs) - Last: W (KO1) Tevin Farmer, June 28
10. Denys Berinchyk (19-1, 9 KOs) - Last: L (KO4) Keyshawn Davis, Feb. 14
Editor's note: Vasiliy Lomachenko announced his retirement from boxing on June 5.
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 130 POUNDS)
1. Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 31 KOs) - Last: NC (no contest) Charly Suarez, May 10
2. Anthony Cacace (24-1, 9 KOs) - Last: W (TKO9) Leigh Wood, May 10
3. O'Shaquie Foster (23-3, 12 KOs) - Last: W (SD12) Robson Conceicao, Nov. 2
4. Ray Ford (18-1-1, 8 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Abraham Nova, Aug. 16
5. Robson Conceicao (19-3-1 1 NC, 9 KOs) - Last: L (SD12) O'Shaquie Foster, Nov. 2
6. Eduardo Nunez (28-1 27 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Masanori Rikiishi, May 28
7. Andres Cortes (23-0, 12 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Salvador Jimenez, May 10
8. Charly Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) - Last: NC (No contest) Emanuel Navarrete, May 10
9. James Dickens (36-5, 15 KOs) - Last: W (KO4) Albert Batyrgaziev, July 2
10. Joe Cordina (18-1, 9 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz, July 5
FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 126 POUNDS)
1. Nick Ball (23-0-1, 13 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Sam Goodman, Aug. 16
2. Rafael Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) - Last: W (TKO7) Edward Vazquez, May 4
3. Stephen Fulton (23-1, 8 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Brandon Figueroa, Feb. 1
4. Angelo Leo (26-1, 12 KOs) - Last: W (MD12) Tomoki Kameda, May 24
5. Bruce Carrington (16-0, 9 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Mateus Heita, July 26
6. Luis Alberto Lopez (31-3, 18 KOs) - Last: W (KO1) Eduardo Montoya, March 29
7. Brandon Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Joet Gonzalez, July 19
8. Tomoki Kameda (42-5, 23 KOs) - Last: L (MD12) Angelo Leo, May 24
9. Robeisy Ramirez (14-3, 9 KOs) - Last: L (TKO6) Rafael Espinoza, Dec. 7
10. Mirco Cuello (16-0, 13 KOs) - Last: W (TKO2) Sergio Rios Jimenez, Aug. 8
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 122 POUNDS)
1. Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) - Last: W (TKO8) Ramon Cardenas, May 4
2. Marlon Tapales (40-4, 21 KOs) - Last: W (TKO3) Jon Jon Jet, April 27
3. Murodjon Akhmadaliev (14-1, 11 KOs) - Last: W (TKO8) Luis Castillo, May 30
4. Sam Goodman (20-1, 8 KOs) - Last: L (UD10) Nick Ball, Aug. 16
5. Luis Nery (36-2, 28 KOs) - Last: W (TKO7) Kyonosuke Kameda, Feb. 22
6. David Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs) - Last: W (MD10) Kyonosuke Kameda, July 19
7. Ramon Cardenas (25-2, 14 KOs) - Last: L (TKO8) Naoya Inoue, May 4
8. John Riel Casimero (34-4-1, 23 KOs) - Last: W (TKO1) Saul Sanchez, Oct. 13
9. Shabaz Masoud (14-0, 4 KOs) - Last: W (SD12) Liam Davies, Nov. 2
10. TJ Doheny (26-6, 20 KOs) - Last: L (TKO10) Nick Ball, March 15
BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 118 POUNDS)
1. Junto Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) - Last: W (TKO6) Ryosuke Nishida, June 8
2. Ryosuke Nishida (10-1, 2 KO) - Last: L (TKO6) Junto Nakatani, June 8
3. Yoshiki Takei (11-0, 9 KOs) - Last: W (TKO1) Yuttapong Tongdee, May 28
4. Seiya Tsutsumi (12-0-3, 8 KOs) - Last: D (Unanimous draw 12) Daigo Higa, Feb. 24
5. Takuma Inoue (20-2, 5 KOs) - Last: L (UD12) Seiya Tsutsumi, Oct. 13
6. Juan Francisco Estrada (45-4, 28 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Karim Arce Lugo, June 14
7. Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez (52-4, 42 KOs) - Last: W (TKO10) Rober Barrera, July 12, 2024
8. Daigo Higa (21-3-3, 19 KOs) - Last: Draw (Unanimous draw 12) Antonio Vargas, July 30
9. Antonio Vargas (19-1-1, 11 KOs) - Last: Draw (Unanimous draw 12) Daigo Higa, July 30
10. Tenshin Nasukawa (7-0, 2 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Victor Santillan, June 8
Editor's note: Emmanuel Rodriguez has been removed for inactivity.
JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 115 POUNDS)
1. Jesse Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) - Last: W (TKO10) Phumelele Cafu, July 19
2. Fernando Martinez (18-0, 9 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Kazuto Ioka, May 11
3. Kazuto Ioka (31-4-1, 16 KOs) - Last: L (UD12) Fernando Martinez, May 11
4. Phumelele Cafu (11-1-3, 8 KOs) - Last: L (TKO10) Jesse Rodriguez, July 19
5. Carlos Cuadras (44-5-1, 28 KOs) - Last: W (UD10) Luis Guzman Torres, May 15
6. Kosei Tanaka (20-2, 11 KOs) - Last: L (SD12) Phumelele Cafu, Oct. 14
7. KJ Cataraja (17-1, 13 KOs) - Last: L (SD10) Kenbun Torres, Aug. 24
8. David Jimenez (18-1, 12 KOs) - Last: W (KO11) Kenbun Torres, July 20
9. Suzumi Takayama (9-0, 8 KOs) - Last: W (TKO2) Isao Aoyama, Nov. 12
10. Willibaldo Garcia Perez (23-6-2, 13 KOs) - Last: W (SD12) Rene Calixto Bibiano, May 23
FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 112 POUNDS)
1. Ricardo Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) - Last: W (SD12) Kenshiro Teraji, July 30
2. Kenshiro Teraji (25-2, 16 KOs) - Last: L (SD12) Ricardo Sandoval, July 30
3. Seigo Yuri Akui (21-3-1, 11 KOs) - Last: L (TKO12) Kenshiro Teraji, March 13
4. Francisco Rodriguez Jr. (40-6, 27 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Galal Yafai, June 21
5. Masamichi Yabuki (18-4, 17 KOs) - Last: W (TKO12) Angel Ayala, March 29
JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 108 POUNDS)
1. Rene Santiago (14-4, 9 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Shokichi Iwata, March 13
2. Jonathan Gonzalez (28-4-1, 14 KOs) - Last: L (TKO1) Anthony Olascuaga, Oct. 14
3. Kyosuke Takami (10-0, 8 KOs) - Last: W (TKO10) Erick Rosa, July 30
4. Elwin Soto (21-3-1, 13 KOs) - Last: D (Split draw 10) Moises Caro, Nov. 23
5. Carlos Canizales (28-3-1, 20 KOs) - Last: W (KO5) Petchmanee CP Freshmart, Aug. 1
STRAWWEIGHT (UP TO 105 POUNDS)
1. Oscar Collazo (12-0, 9 KOs) - Last: W (KO5) Edwin Cano Hernandez , March 29
2. Pedro Taduran (18-4-1, 13 KOs) - Last: W (SD12) Ginjiro Shigeoka, May 24
3. Melvin Jerusalem (24-3, 12 KOs) - Last: W (UD12) Yudai Shigeoka, March 30
4. Knockout CP Freshmart (25-1, 9 KOs) - Last: L (TKO7) Oscar Collazo, Nov. 16
5. Yudai Shigeoka (9-2, 5 KOs) - Last: L (UD12) Melvin Jerusalem, March 30
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