Mike Tyson gives words of wisdom to prospect hoping to break his record at Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou event

27/10/2023 12:20

They say don’t meet your idols, but Moses Itauma did just that as he came face-to-face with Mike Tyson.

Both men were at the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou press conference, as Itauma is fighting on the undercard, while Tyson is the trainer of the former UFC heavyweight champion.

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Teenage Itauma is one of the most exciting prospects in the heavyweight division and he has already won all five of his fights so far having turned pro earlier this year.

He has made it very clear that his aspirations are to break the record for the youngest heavyweight champion ever.

That record is currently held by Tyson, who won his first title at 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old when he knocked out Trevor Berbick inside two rounds.

And so who better for Itauma to get advice from than the man himself.

Itauma began their interaction by explaining how many fights he has had so far: “Under my belt, five now, but I only turned pro in January.”

“How many fights you get a year?” Tyson asked.

“Right now I’m thinking eight fights this year, eight fights next year, then we’ll see what we can come up with.” Itauma replied.

This may sound like a lot nowadays, but to put it in context, in 1985, early in ‘Iron Mike’s’ career, he had 15 fights in one year.

Itauma continued: “But, I want eight quality fights, not eight bums, do you know what I mean?”

“Any fight with a fighter is quality, because anything can happen in there, anything, do you know what I’m saying,” Tyson explained.

“There is no such things as bums.

“I used to say people were bums until I made my comeback to box that division, then I realised there was no bums, that’s hard work.”

Itauma took this on and said: “You can learn from every fight.”

“I used to learn mostly from losses.” Tyson said, before Itauma thanked him and the pair shook hands.