Moses itauma is one to watch but frank warren still has a big problem to solve

Patience is the watchword for 20-year-old Moses Itauma. This kid is the hottest prospect in the heavyweight division in my view. He’s young, ambitious and ruthless, but there are things only

experience can teach in this game. Itauma is very self-assured. He knows what he is capable of, and that is half the battle as a fighter. There is not a hint of self-doubt. The only

question mark is over his stamina. We don’t know how deep he can go at this stage. There are no issues with his chin, however. Daniel Dubois did not hold back when they sparred at our place

but Itauma coped well enough. He has fast hands, and is nasty. He wants to get rid of people. The issue is getting rounds under his belt against solid opposition, someone who punches back.

This is the problem that Frank Warren, his promoter, is having to solve at this point. Otto Wallin and Jermaine Franklin have been talked about as possible opponents, but neither would last

long. Only two of his opponents have gone six rounds, and that was in bouts three and four. Most go in a round, the rest have gone in two, including Mariusz Wach. Though he’s only 20, he is

a man in every sense in the ring. He will never be body beautiful, but then Larry Holmes wasn’t carved out of marble. Joe Frazier wasn’t either. But they were both brilliant fighting men.

Itauma is not a massive heavyweight in today’s terms but at 6ft 4ins he is not undernourished and he is very accurate. He does not miss. Last Saturday in Glasgow was a case in point. He

touched Mike Balogun with his southpaw jab and then a backhand. It was a set up. Balogun launched forward to respond but walked onto a right hook. Bang, down he went like a sack of spuds.

Apart from Oleksandr Usyk and Dubois I’d fancy him against anybody. I know he has sparred Tyson Fury and were he to face him under lights I would not bet against him. It will take something

special to stop him. Warren knows this but its about finding the happy medium. It’s a long career. As much as we would love to see him in big fights now, he still lacks experience. At some

stage he will be dragged into the later rounds. But that time is not yet. Don’t worry, it’ll be well worth the wait. I guarantee it. _FOLLOW BARRY ON X AT @‌CLONESCYCLONE @MCGUIGAN’S_GYM_