Moses Itauma, Britain's unbeaten heavyweight prospect, faces Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in Manchester. The 21-year-old has won all 13 professional fights, 11 by stoppage, and is seen as a future star. However, he remains grounded, focusing on improvement rather than hype.
Itauma, born Enriko Moses Itauma in Kezmarok, Slovakia, to a Slovakian mother and Nigerian father, endured severe racism. His brother Samuel was locked in a cupboard at a hospital school because of his skin colour. The family moved to Chatham, Kent, but Itauma stayed with his grandmother until school age.
He describes his mixed identity as key to his character, saying he feels 'more of a citizen of the world'. Despite the challenges, he does not feel a responsibility to change attitudes, stating: 'I continue being myself and they can think whatever they want.'
Itauma's rapid rise includes a two-minute knockout of Dillian Whyte last August. He acknowledges the need to improve his media skills, reviewing his own press conferences to see if he would pay attention. 'If not, then what can I change?' he asks.
His family's struggles in Slovakia, where his mother was also abused for having a black husband, shaped his resilience. He still visits twice a year and remains fluent in the language.
