Tony Bellew says Moses Itauma would be thrown in too soon if he were matched with Oleksandr Usyk now, calling the idea “absolutely insane” because the heavyweight prospect has not yet gone beyond six rounds. Bellew said Usyk would drag Itauma into territory he has never experienced, and that kind of test should wait.
The warning lands now because Itauma is being talked about as one of the division’s next big names, while Usyk, 39, has vacated his heavyweight world titles and is said to be winding down. That has opened the door to speculation about who might come after him, and some fans have even floated Itauma as a possible final opponent for the Ukrainian.
Bellew, speaking on Fight Your Corner in partnership with Midnite, did not hide his view of the mismatch. “Would you throw a fighter like that in with someone like him?” he said. “His game plan would be, ‘I have only got to see past six rounds with you, kid. I am going to take you to places that you have never been.’”
He also pointed to Itauma’s record of opposition so far. “His best win is Jermaine Franklin. Jermaine Franklin is known for losing,” Bellew said, underscoring his view that the 20-year-old has not yet built the kind of ring time needed for a fight at the very top.
That is why August 29 matters. Itauma is scheduled to face Filip Hrgovic at the O2 Arena in London, and Hrgovic is widely regarded as the toughest opponent of his career. A win would not guarantee anything, but it could move Itauma into position for a WBA or IBF heavyweight title shot, which is exactly the kind of step that would make the Usyk talk less theoretical.
The friction is obvious. Usyk has vacated his belts and a farewell bout with Deontay Wilder is being discussed, yet the name being tossed around by some fans is Itauma. Bellew’s point is that wishful matchmaking can outrun reality: until Itauma has been tested deeper than six rounds, Usyk is not a reward fight. It is a trap. If Itauma beats Hrgovic, the next question will be whether he has earned a title path at all, not whether he is ready for the final boss.
