Demsey McKean vs Moses Itauma Preview December 21st, 2024
Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Moses Ituama of Slovakia be taking another small step up in class on Saturday, December 21st when he meets Demsey McKean of Australia. The 10-rounder between the two UK-based southpaws takes place in Saudi Arabia and can be seen live on pay-per-view in most nations on the undercard of the Uyk vs Fury rematch. Ituama last fought in July when he halted Mariusz Wach in the second round to defend his WBO Inter-Continental Title. McKean hasn’t fought since being stopped in the 12th round by Filip Hrgovic in August of last year.
McKean vs Ituama Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Demsey McKean +800
- Moses Ituama -1500
My Pick
The 34-year-old McKean is a former former Muay Thai and mixed martial arts fighter who has built up a fine mark of 22-1 with 14 Ko’s. He made his pro debut in 2014 and has boxed 120 rounds since. Mckean’s a good-sized heavyweight as he measures 6-feet-6-inches tall but unfortunately has an unlisted reach. He possesses pretty good power as 63.6 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he’s halted 11 of his last 14 opponents.
McKean’s level of competition hasn’t been the stiffest however, other than facing Hrgovic. He won the vacant Australian Queensland Heavyweight Title in 2015 when he stopped Anthony Fowler in the third round and added the Australian Belt in 2017 with a sixth-round stoppage of Will Nasio. He captured the vacant African Heavyweight Belt by stopping Patrick Eneanya in the sixth round and then added the vacant Asia Pacific and IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight Titles in 2020 when he halted Jonathan Rice in the 10th round. He’s also beaten Hunter Sam twice as well as Marcelo Nascimento and Don Haynesworth.
Ituama turns 20 years old on December 28th and climbs through the ropes with a perfect mark of 10-0 with 8 Ko’s and has boxed just 22 rounds since making his pro debut in January, 2023. Ituama, who is the brother of boxer Karol Ituama, was also reportedly unbeaten as an amateur as he went 24-0 with 11 Ko’s. He captured gold medals at the schoolboy, junior, Youth European and the Heavyweight Youth World levels. He stands just over 6-feet-2-inches tall and reportedly has a 78.5-inch reach, so he gives up four inches in height to McKean.
As far as power is concerned, Ituama has plenty of it as his current knockout ratio kicks in at 80 per cent. The only two opponents who went the distance with him were Kevin Espindola and Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko who both went six rounds with him in consecutive bouts in April and July of last year. Six of his 10 opponents have had winning records and like Wach, McKean will be a step up in class for Ituama, who hopes to eventually break Mike Tyson’s record as becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history.
Prediction…
Mckean is an aging but pretty durable heavyweight who has never been a consistent top-10 contender but has enjoyed some good moments throughout his pro career. If he’s at his best and uses his size he could give Ituama a bit of bother, but he hasn’t fought in well over a year so will likely have some ring rust and needs to make sure he doesn’t get caught cold early on. If McKean isn’t at his best then I’m expecting Ituama to stop him before the 10-rounds are up.
Ituama is 14 years younger and has more power.
Play Ituama -1500 @ BetOnline.ag
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Demsey McKean betting • Moses Ituama betting