Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) turned professional with the ambition of breaking Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight champion in history. Tyson set that mark in November 1986 when he stopped Trevor Berbick to win the WBC title.
While Itauma’s early rise has caused excitement, his professional resume remains limited. The 20-year-old fought just 26 rounds over 13 fights, averaging just over two rounds per fight. Two of his contests went the distance during scheduled six-round fights early in his career. Since then, none of his opponents have heard the bell to start round three.
Those quick finishes highlight Itauma’s two-handed power, but also leave unanswered questions about how he fares in longer bouts against experienced opposition.
Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) enters as the most established opponent of Itauma’s career. The American has gone the distance with top heavyweights before and has the durability to extend fights into deeper rounds.
The game was originally scheduled for January before it was postponed after Itauma suffered a bicep injury. The March 28 rescheduling now puts the heavyweight prospect back in action.
For Itauma, the fight represents another step in a career that has developed rapidly since his professional debut. For Franklin, it presents an opportunity to halt the momentum of one of boxing’s fast-rising heavyweights.
The comparisons to Tyson continue to follow Itauma as he builds his record. The upcoming bout may offer a clearer look at where the young heavyweight stands as he continues his climb up the division.
Is Moses Itauma really the new Iron Mike Tyson?
This issue of Rummy’s Corner will attempt to answer that question with a deep dive into the numbers, the styles and the schedules of both men. We compare Tyson’s legendary 1985-86 run, where he fought 28 times in just 565 days, with Itauma’s modern trajectory. We also look at the vast differences in their physical characteristics and fighting styles, moving beyond the “hype” to see the technical reality. Please watch and enjoy the video. This is Rummy’s Corner (produced and narrated by Geoffrey Ciani).
