I was Mike Tyson’s first-ever coach, here is why Moses Itauma is BETTER than a prime Iron Mike

MOSES ITAUMA is BETTER than a prime Mike Tyson – according to the man who first trained the heavyweight legend. Tyson became the youngest heavyweight world champion of all time aged 20 when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in 1986. Moses Itauma has been dubbed better than a prime Mike Tyson Credit: Getty Tyson is the youngest heavyweight world champion of all time aged 20 Credit: Getty But helping mold Tyson into the feared fighter years before was his amateur coach Teddy Atlas. British prodigy Itauma at 21 will challenge for his first world title against Filip Hrgovic, 34, on August 29 at the O2 Arena. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! At that age, Tyson was blitzing through opponents in defence of his heavyweight throne. But Atlas reckons Itauma is an even better fighter at his age than the great Iron Mike. He told CanadaCasino: “Where Itauma is different from Tyson is that he is more dimensional. “He can do more things. He can box a little bit, he can counterpunch, I have seen him set traps, he can go get you, he can go in the trenches, he can go in close, go to the body, go to the head and put punches together. “Tyson was more of a one-direction seek-and-destroy machine, but a very good one. “Tyson created opportunities for his speed and power by being aggressive and smart, moving his head and making you miss and pay. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Teddy Atlas in the corner of Mike Tyson as an amateur “But you pretty much always knew what you were going to get.” Itauma – now 14-0 with 12 KO’s – debuted aged 18 already being compared to Tyson and Atlas does agree with the likeness. He said: “The greatest similarity is speed and power. “Itauma is one of the first heavyweights since Tyson where I can say he shows you that combination of pure speed and pure power that Tyson showed. “No other heavyweights really showed that combination with both hands the way Tyson did. Tyson became legendary because of that combination of speed, power and ferociousness. “He scared people. Itauma is starting to scare people a little bit too, maybe not just with the way he attacks, but with his talent. “He is starting to get to that place a little bit, not where Tyson was, but a little bit. “I think Itauma is going to continue in the direction he is going, which is towards the heavyweight title.” The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring. The Gypsy King has beaten Mariusz Wach in his second fight of the year to set up a huge fight with Anthony Joshua And AJ did the same, knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a thrilling encounter – the Brit was knocked down twice in the opening round. Now fans are looking forward to Moses Itauma’s return for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August. Here’s all the big fights coming up… August Sat 1 – Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain – DAZN Sat 15 – Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott – DAZN Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic - all the info Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic face off for the IBF heavyweight world title Comment now