Moses Itauma Names the Hardest Punchers He’s Faced in the Ring

British Heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma spoke about the hardest punchers he has encountered so far in his career.

“There’s a guy named Luka Pratljacic. He’s Croatian. I think he’s still an amateur, maybe had one pro fight. Honestly, when he hit me, it felt like being struck with a baseball bat. And those weren’t even clean shots. I thought, ‘Somebody check his gloves,’ but he was actually wearing my gloves! His punches were incredibly strong.

Obviously, Lawrence Okolie has a pretty sharp punch. Aloys Junior is a big, powerful hitter, and Tyson has enough power to do serious damage.

But to be honest, any heavyweight is capable of knocking another heavyweight out, so I can’t really say one guy hits harder than the rest. I think if a chin needs five pounds of pressure to shut off, then it doesn’t matter if it’s five and a half or ten — it only takes five.

I believe every heavyweight has that ability, so I haven’t been in the ring with anyone where I thought, ‘This guy can’t punch or isn’t a threat.’

Boxing is the art of hitting and not getting hit. If you’re constantly taking shots, it just shows what kind of fighter you are. Obviously, I’ll be happy if I go through my whole career without absorbing serious punishment.

People don’t really understand what they mean when they say, ‘His chin hasn’t been tested yet.’ Any heavyweight can knock out another heavyweight. I don’t think anyone fails to realize that.

Take Joe Joyce, for example. He was once considered to have the toughest chin in boxing, but then we all saw what Zhilei Zhang did to him. Any chin can be cracked.

I just can’t pay attention to those comments because I don’t see myself as invincible. But I train as if I could become invincible. I don’t want to get hit.

I’ve done thousands and thousands of rounds of sparring, and of course I’ve taken punches. I understand that in 10-ounce gloves things can be very different, but that’s why you sharpen everything in sparring for fight night. So that on the day of the fight, I’m a polished boxer who, hopefully, leaves the ring without a scratch,” Itauma said.

On August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Moses Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs) will face fellow Briton Dillian Whyte.

Photo: DAZN