“If you’re ready for Usyk, prove it”

2020 Olympic Silver Medalist Richard Torrez Jr. says he wants to fight Moses Itauma next. He states that he is “willing and able” to fight Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) to give him the chance to prove that he is ready to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his heavyweight belts.

Would Queensberry dare?

The 26-year-old Torrez Jr. (13-0, 11 KOs) will be a huge step up in class for the 20-year-old Itauma from the low-level opposition his promoters at Queensberry pitted him against.

It is doubtful that Itauma’s British promoters will risk him against a live body like Torrez Jr., because he does not fit the category of fighters which they matched with Moses. He is not in his 40s and is not on the downside of his career. Itauma has faced a particular kind of heavyweight since turning pro. Torrez Jr. does not fit the mold.

As an amateur, Moses never fought against the creme de la creme of Cuba, Eastern Europe or the USA. Itauma quickly turned pro before facing any of the talented world amateurs that would have shown what he was about.

Although they made a big deal to match Itauma against Dillian Whyte in his final match on August 16, 2025, it was another example of a gimme-level opponent being fed to the highly hyped Itauma to ensure he remains undefeated long enough to fight Usyk.

Torrez’s resume speaks louder

Torrez Jr. is ranked #4 IBF, #11 WBC, and #11 WBO. Based on his CV, he should be ranked higher than Moses Itauma.

Torrez’s recent 10-round unanimous decision victory over the 2016 Olympian Guido Vianello is better than any of the wins on Itauma’s resume. The 37-year-old Whyte, who knocked out Itauma last August, is not on the same level as Vianello.

In the past few years, Whyte has already been knocked out by Tyson Fury in six rounds on April 23, 2022 and Alexandr Povetkin in five rounds on August 22, 2020.

“If he’s ready for Usyk, fight me”

“I want that fight. I want that Itauma fight. I think it will be a great fight,” Richard Torrez Jr. said. told Sean Zittel. X. “If anyone wants to know if he’s ready for Usyk or not, look at me. I’m a lefty, I have pressure, I hit a lot. If you put a baby in the ring, I’ll hit a baby.”

The power and pressure style that Torrez Jr. for him will be a nightmare for Moses Itauma to deal with. This would be the first fight in which he fought someone who can fight back since his fight with Stylianos Roulias in the amateurs in 2022.

Itauma was on his bike for the entire three-round against Roulias and tried to escape his pressure. It was not impressive stuff from Moses, showing the flaw in his game. He doesn’t handle relentless pressure well, and that’s the kind of style that Torrez Jr. bring, but with more force.

“I understand he wants those belts, but we’re both young heavyweights. We’re both active, we’re both willing and able,” Torrez Jr. said. said about his interest in fighting Moses Itauma.

Itauma’s list of aging opponents

Ideally, Queensberry should Richard Torrez Jr. take up his offer to fight Itauma because it will be a great fight, and it will show fans that he is not the fake hype job that many of them believe him to be. They see how Itauma compares against these older fighters, and they can connect the dots to see what his career is really about:

• Dillian Whyte – 37
• Mike Balogun – 41
• Dan Garber – 40
• Mariusz Wach – 45

“I don’t think he’ll duck that fight. I’m not going to duck that fight. I’d love to duck that fight. Let’s put some action together. I know the British fans are great fight fans. The US will definitely get behind me as well. I say it’s a great fight that I want to make happen,” said Torrez Jr.