Moses Itauma has one frightening similarity to Mike Tyson says legend’s former rival Roy Jones Jr

Moses Itauma’s aura of destruction is frighteningly similar to that of a young Mike Tyson.

That is according to Roy Jones Jr, who once shared the ring with a far less powerful and dangerous version of Tyson during an exhibition in 2020.

But Jones Jr was still mesmerised by the power of the heavyweight legend, who went 37 fights as a frightening young prospect unbeaten.

He became world champion by the age of just 20 in 1986, and naturally Itauma when bursting onto the heavyweight scene at the age of just 19 generated comparisons.

Despite missing out on breaking Tyson’s record, Itauma has left a trail of destruction in his wake and seems destined for the top of the blue-riband division.

The Briton’s most recent brutal first round victory over Dillian Whyte was his career best, and it was yet another opponent that failed to make it beyond the early stages with the heavy-handed southpaw.

And when reviewing his latest dismissive KO, Jones Jr explained just why Itauma is quite so similar to the American great.

He said during a chat on talkSPORT’s White & Jordan: “I really like Moses Itauma.

“Moses reminds me of a young Mike Tyson. And the reason I say that is because, when you put someone in front of him who he can hit, they are going down.

“Dillian Whyte was a guy that could get hit, and he got him out of there. That is exactly how a young Mike Tyson rolled.

“Mike did that on his way up, I like this from Moses because it is something exciting that he could get to almost what Mike Tyson did.

“That’s a beautiful thought, he may be better or he may not get there, but his potential is seriously exciting.”

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Jones Jr is well placed to pick Itauma having reigned as a heavyweight world champion himself, and he clearly sees star power in the Chatham native.

What is next for Moses Itauma?

Itauma is now hot property in the division since his career-best victory over Whyte.

He is ranked at No.1 by the WBO and can theoretically push towards a world title shot, just behind Joseph Parker who has been ordered to face Oleksandr Usyk.

Many in the boxing world are already thrusting Itauma into his own showdown with Usyk, but he will likely need to wait..

It is expected he will first return before the end of the year in another interim step before pursuing the belts.

Itauma’s manager Francis Warren previously suggested Filip Hrgovic could be a primary option.

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The young prodigy himself suggested Jermaine Franklin, but the American will first return next month.