Does Moses Itauma Lack The Mental Backbone For Top Fights?

Moses Itauma’s rapid rise toward world title shots has many fans questioning whether he’s being overhyped due to the praise he’s received following victories over low-level opposition. Itauma headlines next month against the faded veteran Dillian Whyte on August 16th on DAZN PPV. It’s an interesting choice for a headliner on a pay-per-view card, an unproven prospect fighting a journeyman.

Mental Toughness Doubts Surface

People feel that the 20-year-old Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs) is being maneuvered around Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel to get a title shot. He’s being pushed to the top without fighting the guys that he should have to fight to prove himself. He’s like Hamzah Sheeraz of the heavyweight division. Cutting corners to get an underrved title shot.

Fans note that Itauma looked uncomfortable with the pressure that was briefly put on him by his last opponent, 41-year-old Mike Balogun. Itauma didn’t react well when he took some big shots from Balogun, who was just some random guy that was picked out for him to fight. That wasn’t the first time that Itauma showed mental weakness.

Itauma’s Amateur Nerves Recalled

In his amateur fight against Stelios Roulias of Greece, he looked nervous from the nonstop pressure that was put on him. Itauma resorted to running around the ring, unwilling to stand and fight, and throwing only potshots before taking off again. The pressure seemed to unnerved Itauma, who looked like his brother, Karol Itauma, who fell apart recently when he fought a pressure fighter that exposed him. Some fighters get war nerves. We saw that with Moses Itauma.

What this suggests to fans is that Moses Itauma struggles to deal with pressure from fighters well and shows mental weakness. That could be the main reason why his promoter hasn’t matched him against any of these fighters:

• Agit Kabayel
• Richard Torrez Jr.
• Joseph Parker
• Martin Bakole: *when he’s in shape
• Bakhodir Jalalov
• Lenier Pero

The way that Itauma is being matched has the hallmark sign of a fighter that is being protected to hide his flaws until he gets that big money fight and is promptly blown out. Turki Alalshikh needs to take a good look at Itauma with both eyes open to see what he is.