Canadian Cutman Praises Moses Itauma: Usyk's Cutman Sees Potential in Boxer, But Not Ready to Challenge Ukrainian Yet

Canadian cutman Ras Anber, renowned for his collaboration with Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk, has voiced his admiration for British heavyweight Moses Itauma, who recently achieved a victory against Jermaine Franklin. In his comments to Seconds Out, Anber noted that Itauma, boasting an impressive record of 14-0 with 12 knockouts, looked exceptional during the fight, showcasing confidence and skill.

"I think he just looked fantastic. He was so composed. He was a little nervous at the start, wanting to knock him out. As soon as he calmed down — boom. It was all over. And that’s how a true promising fighter shows his performance and moves to the next level," Anber commented, emphasizing that Itauma possesses all the qualities necessary to become a great champion in the future.

Anber, who works closely with Usyk, believes that Itauma has the potential to become a king in the division. However, he also pointed out that the 21-year-old boxer is not yet ready to pose a real challenge to the former undisputed champion from Ukraine. "You could say it’s still too early. Although Moses is showing cosmic performances and looked absolutely brilliant against Franklin. If you don’t see a future champion in this guy, there’s something wrong with you because he’s showcasing his game, and he’s doing it classily, stylishly, and accurately," he added.

Despite all the positive attributes, Anber highlighted that Itauma has yet to face the same trials that Usyk has endured. "But it’s true, he hasn’t had rounds like Usyk. So the question is still open. He hasn’t gone to a decision yet, hasn’t gone the full distance, hasn’t fought against a sufficiently skilled guy that he can’t hit. That’s a big difference when you can’t land a punch. But he has everything to become a king in the future," the cutman emphasized.

It’s worth noting that at the end of March, Itauma secured a victory over American Jermaine Franklin, knocking him out in the fifth round. This win marked the 14th for the young boxer at the professional level, further elevating his status in the boxing world.

The 39-year-old Oleksandr Usyk previously stated that he does not wish to fight Itauma, explaining his decision by saying he does not want to "break the career" of the young boxer. This reflects Usyk's respect for his younger colleague and an understanding of the importance of Itauma's career.

Usyk last stepped into the ring in July 2025, when he knocked out British fighter Daniel Dubois, becoming the undisputed world champion in the heavyweight division for the second time. His next fight is scheduled for May 23 in Egypt against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, which is also generating significant interest among boxing fans.

Earlier, Usyk's promoter explained how they could make the Ukrainian fight Itauma, further igniting discussions around a potential bout between these two outstanding boxers. The topic of their potential matchup remains relevant, and many fans are hopeful that they will eventually meet in the ring.