Kent could be the new hotspot for professional boxing according to a young fighter who has eyes on a world title. Chatham teenager Moses Itauma is preparing for a fight on the undercard of the heavyweight unification bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh next month and he’s not the only one making waves - with some promising talent emerging from the county.
Gravesend’s Cheavon Clarke has been tipped to become a world champion and he fights this Saturday for the vacant WBA inter-continental cruiserweight title.
Itauma, 19, has declared his intentions to try and become the youngest ever world heavyweight champion and believes he’s in good company. “The Kent boys are coming on,” he said. “You’ve got a lot of fighters coming from Kent, you’ve got me, Sam Noakes, Sean Noakes, Charlie Hickford, my brother (Karol), Dennis McCann and Archie Sharp - who isn’t classed as Kent but he’s Kent! “There are a lot of fighters from Kent that are doing very well and I not only appreciate the support that they have given me but even the ones training alongside me, a lot of amateur boys as well who are looking to turn over soon, they are looking to make headlines as well. “I feel like Kent is going to be the new hotspot for boxing.” On Saturday, Clarke fights for the first time since his IBF International Cruiserweight win over Vasil Ducar.
The 33-year-old won his first professional title with success over Czech Republic’s Ducar at the Ovo Arena, Wembley in October and is 7-0 with five knockouts.