Rising young star Moses Itauma has already earned a place in talkSPORT’s top ten heavyweight rankings.
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Adam Catterall and Gareth A Davies sat down to discuss their definitive top 10 heavyweight rankings with the subject being prompted by Fabio Wardley’s imminent battle with Justis Huni at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road on June 7.
The talkSPORT hosts both agreed that Tyson Fury does not get a place in their top 10, even though ‘The Gypsy King’ is currently ranked No. 1 by Ring Magazine behind Oleksandr Usyk.
This is because Fury announced his retirement from the sport in January.
Fury has since provided an update last month while on holiday with his wife, Paris Fury, saying he is ‘happy’ and ‘content’ with his achievements in boxing and ultimately staying retired.
But young prodigy Itauma has instead earned his stripes as a heavyweight already according to both talkSPORT Boxing experts.
The young star features at No.8 and No.10 respectively, despite being just 20-years-old, down to his perfect record of 12-0 as a professional.
He will likely climb in the coming months as he pushes towards a world title after his recent victory over Mike Balogun.
At the pinnacle of the division, Catterall and Davies both agree who sits at the top of their rankings list.
“Number one, quite obviously, is the Ukrainian master that is Oleksandr Usyk,” Catterall explained.
“I think most people would agree with that. Number two, I haven’t got one.
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“And the reason why I haven’t got one is because I’m classing Tyson Fury as a retired fighter.
“I don’t think there is anybody worthy of the two spot. So I’m going to put it as vacant.”
Adam Catterall’s Top 10 Heavyweight Boxers
Usyk the King
- Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine)
- N/A
- Daniel Dubois (United Kingdom)
- Joseph Parker (New Zealand)
- Agit Kabayel (Germany)
- Anthony Joshua (United Kingdom)
- Fabio Wardley (United Kingdom)
- Moses Itauma (United Kingdom)
- Bakhodir Jalolov (Uzbekistan)
- Zhilei Zhang (China)
Gaerth A Davies’ Top 10 Heavyweight Boxers
Dubois almost No. 1
- Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine)
- Daniel Dubois (United Kingdom)
- Joseph Parker (New Zealand)
- Agit Kabayel (Germany)
- Anthony Joshua (United Kingdom)
- Filip Hrgovic (Croatia)
- Zhilei Zhang (China)
- Martin Bakole (DR Congo)
- Fabio Wardley (United Kingdom)
- Moses Itauma (United Kingdom)
Both presenters then agreed that Daniel Dubois, Joseph Parker, Agit Kabayel and Anthony Joshua followed Usyk in the top 10.
“Number three, Daniel Dubois, because he is the toughest challenge that Oleksandr Usyk has in the heavyweight division,” Catterall added.
He then selected Wardley as the next name on his list, but Davies insisted that Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic was the best after ‘AJ’ in his top 10.
The pair then agreed on Itauma and Chinese powerhouse Zhilei Zhang being on the list, but differed in their picks of double Olympic gold medallist Bakhodir Jalolov and Congolese pro Martin Bakole.
Davies explained: “I do think it is very significant that we both put Moses Itauma in the top ten right now.”
“I don’t think there’s any doubt,” Catterall chimed in, before Davies said there’s only five guys in the division Itauma doesn’t beat right now.
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Catterall continued: “I’m gobsmacked if you don’t have Moses Itauma in the top 10 heavyweights in the world right now.
“And I stand by having Fabio Wardley that high up. I think he’s earned that right.
“Next weekend, I know that he’s in a proper fight against Justis Huni… Fabio Wardley’s got that thing that I don’t think you can teach people.
“He’s got a massive set of stones. He’s up for it.”
Wardley faces the biggest test of his career when he boxes top ten ranked Australian prospect Huni at Portman Road on Saturday.
Dillian Whyte will also make his return on the card.
He was set to make his comeback in March against Joe Joyce, but was forced to withdraw after suffering a gruesome hand injury.
