Billy Joe Saunders backs Moses Itauma to beat Oleksandr Usyk

Billy Joe Saunders has backed Moses Itauma to beat Oleksandr Usyk, saying he currently sees no heavyweight capable of overcoming the 21-year-old prospect. The former two-weight world champion also questioned whether a fight between Itauma and Usyk should happen at this stage of their careers.

Itauma must first face Filip Hrgovic on Saturday for the vacant IBF heavyweight title. Victory would make Itauma the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick in the second round in 1986.

The British boxer would then be expected to meet mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez. Sanchez has agreed to step aside with Queensberry promoter Frank Warren, allowing the title picture to move forward after the Hrgovic fight.

Saunders believes the timing works against Usyk. The Ukrainian is 39 and has indicated that he is nearing the end of his career, with one final bout among his stated ambitions. Usyk has already become an undisputed champion in two weight divisions and has secured a place in boxing’s Hall of Fame.

His most recent performance has also influenced Saunders’ assessment. Usyk stopped Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round last May, although Saunders considered the display below the standard expected from the Ukrainian.

Saunders said he would have preferred to see Usyk meet Itauma two or three years earlier, when the proposed contest would not have been realistic. He now views Itauma as the clear choice because of the younger fighter’s current level and Usyk’s age.

The assessment leaves a possible Usyk-Itauma bout dependent on several developments, beginning with Itauma’s meeting with Hrgovic and the subsequent mandatory title situation. For Saunders, however, the outcome of a future contest is already clear: he would confidently select Itauma to win.