Unbeaten heavyweight set to spar Tyson Fury ahead of Oleksandr Usyk rematch… despite Gypsy King previously stating he would be ‘mad’ to fight the KO artist

Britain’s rising star, Moses Itauma, will join Tyson Fury in camp ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on December 21.

Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight world champion of the four-belt era by stripping Fury of his WBC title during their first bout in May.  

The pair will go toe-to-toe for a second time in Saudi Arabia on December 21 – with Itauma facing Demsey McKean on the undercard. 

Itauma – who has been grabbing the headlines at just 19 years old – will join Fury in camp as one of his sparring partners ahead of the rematch. 

Itauma said he is excited to gauge his current level against the former world champion but insists he will be thinking about his own preparations when in the ring.

Britain’s rising star, Moses Itauma (right), will join Tyson Fury (left) in camp ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on December 21

Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight world champion of the four-belt era by stripping Fury of his WBC title during their first bout in May 

The pair will go toe-to-toe for a second time in Saudi Arabia on December 21 – with Itauma facing Demsey McKean on the undercard 

Speaking to Sky Sports about the prospect of sparring the Gypsy King, Itauma – who has a professional record of 10-0 – said: ‘I’ve got my own fight to think about.

He went on to add: ‘We’re kind of similar styles, the likes of me and Usyk, we’ve kind of got a similar style so I feel like I’ll be very beneficial.

‘It just compliments me. It compliments me but listen, I’m not going to go there just to help him. I want to gauge my ability off his ability. Obviously I’m looking forward to [that].’

This will not be the first time Itauma has sparred with the 36-year-old – he previously shared the ring with the Gypsy King before the original date for Fury’s first fight with Usyk.

Speaking about his experience sparring Fury, Itauma said: ‘Whether it was inside the ring or outside the ring, I learned a lot definitely from being in camp with Tyson.

‘Outside the ring, [it is about] maybe getting a balance in life. Inside the ring being a bit more patient, a bit calmer, not trying to kill everyone. People have pulled out of fights with me and I don’t blame them.

This will not be the first time Itauma has sparred with the 36-year-old – he previously shared the ring with the Gypsy King before the original date for Fury’s first fight with Usyk

Itauma said he is excited to gauge his current level against the former world champion but insists he will be thinking about his own preparations when in the ring

‘If I was in their shoes, I would pull out as well. I wouldn’t want to fight me either. [But] I have to show it. It’s all good everyone talking about it but I’ve actually got to back it up.’

He also revealed more about what it was like to spar the Gypsy King during an interview with talkSPORT after Fury’s clash with Francis Ngannou fight. 

Itauma said: ‘Obviously I was in Tyson’s camp, he was very Marmite in sparring. Some days he’d do good but in some he’d been unbelievable. 

‘It honestly depends on what version of Fury turns up. If the one sparring on good days turns up he will have a very easy night with Usyk.

‘As I say he’s very Marmite, he could have a bad day in sparring and I feel like the Francis Ngannou fight was a very bad day.’

Meanwhile, Fury thinks very highly of Itauma. He once described Itauma as the ‘future of the heavyweight division’ and said he would be ‘mad’ to consider fighting the 19-year-old. 

Itauma is known for his devastating power and ability to knock his opponents out

Uploading a photo of him and Itauma in the ring after a sparring session ahead of his first fight with Usyk, Fury wrote: ‘@m.itauma (Moses Itauma) is the future of the heavyweight division.’ 

Fury also made a hilarious remark when asked by TNT whether Itauma could be one of his possible opponents. He said: “No I definitely wouldn’t [accept a fight with Itauma]! Do you think I’m stupid? No, no no.’