Tony Bellew believes it could be ‘completely loopy’ to match Moses Itauma in opposition to Oleksandr Usyk.
The previous world champion has stated Itauma is method off a cross-generational bout with Usyk, regardless of being the way forward for heavyweight boxing.
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Usyk grew to become the undisputed heavyweight champion for the third time by demolishing Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.
Boxing fans have since been debating who the Ukrainian nice ought to face subsequent, whereas others are arguing whether or not he’s the most effective boxer of all time.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, who has spearheaded boxing’s greatest clashes within the final two years, believes Usyk vs Itauma is the battle to make subsequent.
However Bellew, 42, could not disagree extra.
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“I feel it is completely ludicrous to throw Moses Itauma in there with Oleksandr Usyk now,” he stated on Monday through talkSPORT Drive with Ade Oladipo and Gabby Agbonlahor.
“That’s absolute insanity of the best order. Has Moses even been previous six or seven rounds but?
“Why would you throw him in… boxing is a sport the place it is so unforgiving and you must earn your stripes.
“I do imagine Moses Itauma is the way forward for the heavyweight division, however he ought to under no circumstances, form or type be climbing into the ring with Oleksandr Usyk when he hasn’t been previous six rounds.
“I am sorry — it is completely loopy.”
Itauma is at the moment a prime 10-ranked heavyweight in all 4 main sanctioning our bodies.
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He was awarded the No. 1 spot by the WBO after stopping Mike Balogun in two rounds in Might.
The 20-year-old from Kent has amassed an ideal 12-0 file since making his skilled debut in January 2023.
Itauma’s hardest problem of his profession will come subsequent month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, when he faces Dillian Whyte in an enormous heavyweight conflict.
Whyte has confronted a number of boxing’s finest heavyweights in his profession, together with Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker, who Bellew believes needs to be the person to battle Usyk subsequent.
Bellew stated ‘nobody is extra deserving’ than Parker to battle Usyk for undisputed standing following the latter’s masterclass in opposition to Dubois.
“I could make a case for Joseph Parker deserving the shot greater than Daniel Dubois,” he defined.
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“As a result of Joseph Parker is the person who went in with absolutely the boogeymen of the division.
“Joseph Parker went in with Deontay Wilder who, let’s face it, nobody needs to face him.
“After which he went with somebody even worse in Zhilei Zhang, and nobody needs to face him.
“However he handled the 2 of them back-to-back… then, on 48 hours discover, he went in with the best sparring accomplice the world’s ever recognized — Martin Bakole.”
The WBO are anticipated to order Usyk to defend his belts in opposition to Parker subsequent.
They’re subsequent up within the sanctioning physique rotation system, and Parker, who gained the WBO interim heavyweight title in opposition to Zhang in March 2024, is the frontrunner to get a crack at Usyk.
Parker, who has sparred Itauma, instructed talkSPORT Boxing on Monday that he is been left very impressed by the teenager, however would relatively battle these above him like Usyk for now.
talkSPORT pundit Spencer Oliver agreed with Bellew and stated Itauma combating Usyk can be a ‘catastrophe.’