Boxing: Moses Itauma – how Slovakian-born Briton became heavyweight prospect
When Itamar was three, the family moved to Chatham, Kent.
He started boxing at the age of nine, and although he admits he hated his first training session, he enjoyed the social interaction with his gym friends and kept at it.
During his teenage years, his talent became apparent with victories in tournaments around the world.
“There were a lot of amateurs where I lived and I was always in the ring – I was doing well in school and getting closer to my friends because I would see them in class, I saw them in the gym two hours later,” he said.
Just before his 16th birthday, Itama was boxing with former lightweight world champion Lawrence Okolie.
His talent was noticed by those in the know. Itauma’s brother Karol soon did the same thing when he signed with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
Promoters prefer the heavyweight’s middle name, Moses, to his first name, Enrico.
Eager to do whatever it took to further his fledgling career, Itama agreed to use his middle name.
“Carroll said Moses sounded strong for a heavyweight, so we decided to go with it,” he said.
