Warren compares Itauma to Messi and Woods

Francis Warren, the manager of unbeaten British-Nigerian heavyweight Moses Itauma, has compared his fighter to legends Lionel Messi and Tiger Woods, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Warren said Itauma is among the rare talents that come along only once in a while.

Warren, who is the son of famous promoter Frank Warren, has been managing Itauma since he turned professional in 2023 at the age of 18. He first spotted Itauma four years earlier when the young boxer, then 14, was sparring a British champion at an event held by boxing figure Al Smith.

While speaking on SunSport’s Corner Talk podcast, Warren recalled how Smith invited him to see Itauma train.

“He said, ‘Do you want to get yourself down here quickly? Come and have a look at this. This is quite special,’” Warren said.

“I sort of knew the name, but I had never met him before. I went in, and I did not expect him to be sparring, but he was sparring a British champion at the time, and he was only 14. It was not like a big, heavy spar, but he was having a move about, and he could really move. You could see the feet, the feints, the head. It is like watching poetry in motion, even at that age.”

Warren later signed Itauma to a scholarship contract with Queensberry Promotions two years later. Since then, Itauma has drawn comparisons to a young Mike Tyson, winning 14 fights, including 12 by knockout, without losing.

Itauma is set to fight Filip Hrgovic on Saturday at London’s O2 Arena for the vacant IBF world heavyweight title. Warren warned that Hrgovic is underestimating Itauma.

“Hrgovic is a dangerous, tough guy who thinks, from the interviews, he is fighting a 21-year-old kid who has not been there and done it,” Warren said.

“But unfortunately, he is running into somebody who I will brand as in the same vein as your Messis, your LeBrons, your Tiger Woodses. These phenomenal talents just come along every now and again. Moses is a potential generational great, even at 21.”

If Itauma wins, he will become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history, behind only Tyson, who was 20 when he won his first title in 1986.

Itauma, who is unbeaten in 14 professional fights, admitted that the pressure leading up to the match is starting to get to him. He has been called inexperienced by Hrgovic in the buildup to the fight.

“I tell myself there is nothing that this Hrgovic guy can do to get in my head, but he is starting to wind me up,” Itauma said.