Moses Itauma faces Mariusz Wach at the O2 as he defends WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title –Former World featherweight champion boxer Barry McGuigan latest to big-up Chatham boxer

Moses Itauma is set to defend his WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title on Saturday against an experienced opponent.

The Chatham boxer faces Mariusz Wach (38-10) in his title defence at the O2 Arena.

His fight, scheduled for 10 rounds, is on the undercard of the British heavyweight clash between Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora.

Itauma is currently 9-0 and faces another step up in class against an experienced fighter.

Wach, 44, is more than twice the age of 19-year-old Itauma and taller too, at 6ft 7.5inch. He last fought in October when he claimed a unanimous decision win over fellow Polish fighter Michal Boloz.

Prior to that, he’d lost on points to Frazer Clark a year ago and has previously been in the ring with former WBC interim title holder Dillian Whyte.

Back in 2012 he fought Wladimir Klitschko and gave his opponent - one of the heavyweight all-time greats - a scare before the Ukrainian won by unanimous decision to retain his IBF, IBO, WBO, WBA world titles.

Frank Warren’s southpaw prospect Itauma has breezed through his first nine professional fights, picking up plenty of plaudits along the way.

Former World featherweight champion boxer Barry McGuigan’s the latest to talk up the Medway teenager, saying in a recent column for The Mirror that “in terms of talent I don’t think I have seen a British heavyweight as naturally gifted since Lennox Lewis came through 30-plus years ago. And he might even have the edge on him.

“He has a natural rhythm in the ring. Hits hard and when he gets his opponent in trouble it’s light out. He’s a natural finisher.

“His distance control, balance, coordination and accuracy are all top-class. There is probably not a better young heavyweight prospect in the world.”

Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew also praised the teenager this week, posting on X: “He’s level headed and is a very good prospect. At 19 years of age I think this young man could be the future of the division!”

Those comments come after Tyson Fury has also tipped Itauma for great things.

Itauma won the WBO title against Ilja Mezencev in May after stopping his opponent inside two rounds. His previous four wins had all been first-round TKOs.

It’s an exciting undercard at the O2 for Kent boxing fans as Maidstone’s super bantamweight Dennis ‘The Menace’ McCann fights Ionut Baluta for the European title and Sean Noakes (7-0) - also from Maidstone - looks to continue his forward momentum against Inder Bassi.