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MOSES ITAUMA already has two heavyweight stars lined up to fight him - including boxing's "bogeyman".

Itauma has set the British boxing scene alight after just 11 bouts - delivering nine brutal knockouts.

Moses Itauma and Mike Balogun at a boxing weigh-in.
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Moses Itauma faces off with Mike BalogunCredit: SNS

He has even been dubbed the next Mike Tyson - who became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time aged 20.

Finding willing opponents willing to put their reputation on the line against the 20-year-old Londoner has been tough.

American Mike Balogun - a former NFL star-turned 21-1 heavyweight - steps up to face Itauma tonight in Scotland.

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But Filip Hrgovic, 32, and Martin Bakole, 31, are two names in the running to fight the British youngster in the near future.

And Itauma said: “Martin Bakole, not so much, Filip Hrgovic, yes.

"The reason I say Martin Bakole no more is because Martin Bakole was a boogeyman, then he got knocked out by Joseph Parker and it’s brought him back a bit. 

"Then he didn’t have the best performance against Efe Ajagba and that’s brought him back a little bit more."

Bakole fought Parker, 33, on just two days notice in February after Daniel Dubois, 27, pulled out due to illness.

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But Bakole was beaten in a round before drawing to Ajagba, 31, in May.

Itauma continued: “If I fight Martin Bakole, that could give him a reason to top him back up, when I don’t need to be that person.

Mike Balogun is the former NFL star who knocked out the son of a heavyweight legend and now faces Brit star Moses Itauma

"If he reclaims the person that he once was, the bogeyman of the division, then the fight with him would make sense.

"But why would you fight him on zero? You want him to rebuild himself.” 

Hrgovic lost to Dubois last June but returned with victory in April against Joe Joyce, 39.

And Itauma said: “Hrgovic, it’s a different term. I think my team are keen to fight Hrgovic, but they want to see me in a 10-round fight first.” 

Martin Bakole during a boxing match.
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Martin Bakole is linked with fighting ItaumaCredit: Getty
Filip Hrgovic punches Joe Joyce in a boxing match.
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Joe Joyce lost to Filip HrgovicCredit: Getty
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