Lennox Lewis Warns Moses Itauma to Avoid Oleksandr Usyk For Now

What Lewis Said

Lennox Lewis has a message for boxing's hottest heavyweight prospect: slow down. The three-time world champion says Moses Itauma, still just 21, should steer clear of Oleksandr Usyk — even with Usyk at 39 and having just vacated his three world titles.

"Moses is a great, upcoming, young fighter," Lewis said. "He has got a lot of grit, he throws some good punches. I think there is a time where he is going to have to make that move but the time isn't now, he has got a lot of time left, take his time."

Lewis's advice is blunt: wait until Usyk retires. "If I was him, I would wait until Oleksandr Usyk is retired and know that I am ruling this heavyweight scene right now, but to go against him right now is a bit too early."

Why This Matters Right Now

Usyk's decision to vacate his belts has thrown the heavyweight division wide open, and Itauma is sitting in about as good a position as any young fighter could ask for. He's already been called out by newly crowned WBA champion Murat Gassiev, he's in line for an IBF title shot, and he's the mandatory challenger for the WBO strap — likely to face the winner of the Usyk-Fabio Wardley rematch.

That's a lot of title-shot smoke for a fighter who hasn't even hit his physical prime. It's also exactly why Lewis is sounding a note of caution. Itauma has looked electric in the ring, but a step up to a fighter with Usyk's footwork, ring IQ and championship pedigree is a different animal entirely — even a 39-year-old version of him.

The Bigger Picture

Itauma is set to headline London's O2 Arena for the first time, a clear signal that promoters and fans already view him as a genuine main-event draw. The question isn't whether he'll get title opportunities — it's which ones he should take, and in what order.

Lewis's take reflects a classic boxing dilemma: strike while the iron's hot and the opportunities are stacked up, or be patient and let a young fighter fully develop before testing him against an all-time great. History has plenty of cautionary tales on both sides of that argument.

For now, Itauma has options on the table with Gassiev, an IBF shot, and the WBO mandatory spot — plenty to keep him busy without needing to chase Usyk. Whether he (or his team) takes Lewis's advice remains to be seen, but the heavyweight landscape is shifting fast, and Itauma is right in the middle of it.