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Sport

Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk’s rescheduled fight included Moses Itauma facing Ilja Mezencev on the undercard at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh

By: Luke Cawdell lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 09 February 2024

Updated: 11:47, 09 February 2024

Moses Itauma looks set for a frustrating wait to fight again after a sparring injury to Tyson Fury.

A cut above the eye during training has delayed Fury’s much-hyped heavyweight unification fight with Oleksandr Usyk. Itauma was set to fight on the same show, A new date of May 18 has been agreed.

Moses Itauma has been sparring with Tyson Fury ahead of February 17 show in Riyadh

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Chatham heavyweight Itauma – who had sparred Fury himself in preparation for the original date – is on the undercard of the rescheduled show at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

He hopes for another busy year as he chases his dream of a world title in record time.

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Itauma (7-0) only started his professional career at the end of last January and had seven fights in the calendar year, with five knockouts. He needs to work his way through the challenges quickly if he is going to beat Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest-ever heavyweight champ.

Whether 19-year-old Itauma is planning to fight between now and May remained to be seen.

His opponent in May’s ‘Ring of Fire’ event will be Kazakhstan-born Ilja Mezencev (24-3)

Itauma’s German-based opponent heads into the scheduled fight off the back of a split-decision defeat in July, having claimed wins by knockout in each of his previous three.

Mezencev, 28, has lost three of his 28 professional bouts, with 20 KO wins.

The less experienced Itauma has enjoyed a super transition to the professional ranks after sweeping all before him during his junior amateur days.

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