Devin Haney Calls 21-Year-Old Heavyweight Sensation 'The Next Guy' After Viral KO

Moses Itauma's list of high-profile backers keeps growing after every fight, with a title shot potentially coming before the end of the year.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:49pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the intense action of a heavyweight boxing match, with sharp planes of color and form capturing the raw power and energy of the sport.A cubist interpretation of the explosive knockout that has catapulted 21-year-old heavyweight Moses Itauma into the boxing spotlight.Manchester Today

After Moses Itauma's devastating knockout of Jermaine Franklin on Saturday, welterweight champion Devin Haney declared the 21-year-old heavyweight as 'the next guy'. Itauma has quickly become one of the most talked-about young prospects in boxing, with combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani and ESPN analyst Andreas Hale also endorsing him as a future star. Itauma is already ranked #1 by the WBO and WBA at heavyweight, and his team is reportedly eyeing a title shot before the end of 2026.

Why it matters

Itauma's rapid rise and the growing chorus of high-profile figures praising him suggest he could be on the verge of a major breakthrough in the heavyweight division. At just 21 years old, he has already stopped established contenders like Dillian Whyte and Jermaine Franklin, putting the rest of the heavyweight landscape on notice.

The details

In his most recent fight, Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) scored a viral knockout of the previously unbeaten Jermaine Franklin in the main event at the Co-op Live in Manchester. This performance has only further fueled the hype around the young heavyweight, with Devin Haney, Ariel Helwani, and ESPN's Andreas Hale all voicing their strong endorsements of Itauma as a future star. The WBC has also ordered a final eliminator bout between Itauma and Lawrence Okolie, with the winner potentially earning a shot at the heavyweight title before the end of 2026.

  • On March 25, 2026, Moses Itauma scored a devastating knockout of Jermaine Franklin in Manchester.
  • In December 2025, the WBC ordered a final eliminator bout between Itauma and Lawrence Okolie.

The players

Moses Itauma

A 21-year-old heavyweight boxer who has quickly emerged as one of the top young prospects in the division, with a record of 14-0 and 12 knockouts.

Devin Haney

The current welterweight world champion, who declared Itauma as 'the next guy' after his recent knockout win.

Ariel Helwani

A prominent combat sports journalist and personality who has endorsed Itauma as 'the one'.

Andreas Hale

An ESPN analyst who has also offered a strong endorsement of the 21-year-old heavyweight prospect.

Oleksandr Usyk

The current undisputed heavyweight champion, who said 'I think Itauma is the future for boxing' after Itauma's recent win.

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What they’re saying

“Moses is the next guy.”

— Devin Haney, Welterweight World Champion

“Itauma is 'the one'.”

— Ariel Helwani, Combat Sports Journalist

“I think Itauma is the future for boxing.”

— Oleksandr Usyk

What’s next

The WBC has ordered a final eliminator bout between Itauma and Lawrence Okolie, with the winner potentially earning a shot at the heavyweight title before the end of 2026.

The takeaway

At just 21 years old, Moses Itauma has quickly become one of the most exciting young prospects in boxing, earning the praise of high-profile figures like Devin Haney, Ariel Helwani, and Oleksandr Usyk. With his combination of power, skill, and potential, Itauma appears poised to challenge for a heavyweight title in the near future.