Ex-Mike Tyson coach reveals major difference between Moses Itauma and boxing icon ahead of Brit’s first world title bout

MOSES ITAUMA drew comparisons to boxing legend Mike Tyson shortly after his professional debut. But one of Iron Mike’s former coaches insists there is a MAJOR difference between the pair. Moses Itauma has been on a destructive rise to heavyweight glory Credit: GETTY He’s been compared to boxing great Mike Tyson throughout his professional career Credit: AFP Chatham clubber Itauma has stopped all but TWO of his 14 career opponents on his way to earning a crack at the IBF heavyweight title. Itauma, who faces Filip Hrgovic at The O2 for the vacant title on Saturday night live on DAZN, had ambitions of breaking Tyson’s record of being the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! The slick southpaw’s bid to rewrite history, however, went up in smoke last May and he’s since admitted it was an “impossible” task. Despite failing to break Tyson’s record, vicious knockout artist Itauma still draws comparisons to the former undisputed heavyweight king. But Tyson’s former coach Teddy Atlas reckons there is a marked difference between the pair. He told Canada Casino: “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. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic - all the info Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic face off for the IBF heavyweight world title “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. “But you pretty much always knew what you were going to get.” Atlas, however, does see some similarities between his former fight and Itauma. He added: “The greatest similarity is speed and power. Mike Tyson’s ex-coach Teddy Atlas has outlined the key differences between Moses Itauma and the boxing legend Credit: GETTY Moses Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight title on Saturday night Credit: GETTY “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.” Comment now