Rising British boxing star Moses Itauma has revealed his ambition to fight in Nigeria, a country he describes as his spiritual and ancestral home.
The 19-year-old heavyweight sensation, who holds an undefeated professional record of 13-0 with 11 knockouts, shared his dream in an interview with DAZN, as he visited Nigeria for the first time in over 15 years.
Born in Slovakia to a Slovakian mother and Nigerian father, Itauma has quickly emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in world boxing. His power and poise have earned him praise from legends of the sport, including Tyson Fury, who recently called him “the future of boxing.”
“Of course I want to box here, that’s the end goal,” Itauma said of Nigeria.
“When I look at people in Nigeria, I know these are my people — the way they embrace me.”
The young heavyweight also reflected on the emotional connection he felt upon arriving in Nigeria for the first time since childhood.
“Someone asked me off the plane about my belts and said they were proud of me. They said, ‘You’re Nigerian and doing well, so we’re proud of you.’
It’s kind of hard to turn down people like that.”
While boxing events in Nigeria have been rare at the elite level, Itauma believes the dream is inching closer to reality.
“It’s one of these things that has been talked about for a long time but never executed. Now I think we’re coming to the closing stages of trying to make it happen.”
The 2020 Youth Olympic gold medalist was last in Nigeria in 2010, too young to recall the visit. Now, as a young man and rising star in the sport, he’s seeing the country with fresh eyes.
“To see it through a man’s eyes is amazing,” he said.
With 13 wins under his belt, including several first-round finishes, Itauma is widely tipped to become a world title challenger in the near future. But while his career may be taking him around the globe, it’s clear that Nigeria holds a special place in his heart.
His dream of fighting on Nigerian soil could mark a historic moment for African boxing, potentially sparking greater investment and attention to the sport across the continent.
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