Tyson Fury picks Chatham’s Moses Itauma to help prepare for undisputed heavyweight championship fight against Oleksandr Usyk, sparring together in Morecambe and Saudi Arabia – Itauma on undercard at the the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh on February 17

Chatham’s Moses Itauma is playing his part in preparing Tyson Fury to take on Oleksandr Usyk in next month’s highly-anticipated world heavyweight unification bout.

Itauma, who turned 19 in late December, will be on the undercard in Riyadh for the February 17 ‘Ring of Fire’ show and has been an important sparring partner for Fury.

Fury, who holds the WBC belt and is vying to claim Usyk’s WBA, IBF and WBO titles, called on Kent teenager Itauma for some ring work in Morecambe prior to them both heading out to Saudi Arabia for training.

Rising star Itauma has made a stunning start to his own professional career, winning all seven of his bouts during a hectic first year, including some eye-catching knock-outs.

He put Istvan Bernath away in Riyadh back in October and was quick to take down Michal Boloz when he fought at York Hall last time out. Both KO wins came inside the opening round.

Itauma hopes to be heavyweight world champion in record time - ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson won it when he was 20 years and 150 days old - but admitted being in the ring with Fury has given him an insight into what’s ahead.

South African Kevin Lerena was putting Itauma through his paces on Thursday but nothing compares to going toe-to-toe with Fury.

“He plays mind games with you,” said Itauma, speaking to KentOnline while on a break from training. “You feel like you’ve got him on the ropes and you’re about to hit him with a punch and he’s slipped it and caught you with a good three or four combinations.

“Being in the ring with him, it’s like ‘this is what a soon-to-be unified World champion is like’.

“You can tell the difference between British level, European level fighters and World level, being in with Tyson you can feel the difference.”

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