Moses Enriko Itauma, 18, ‘the future of heavyweight boxing’ in the UK, signs to turn pro with Frank Warren after fighting with Anthony Joshua and Joe Joyce as a schoolboy

Moses ‘Enriko’ Itauma has signed a long-term promotional deal to turn professional with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions on BT Sport.

The 18-year-old heavyweight prospect has already won gold medals for England at the World and European Youth Championships and is seen as a serious future force for the next generation of British boxing.

Itauma played the role of an amateur who is only 17 years old and only recently turned 18 on December 29.

Now that he’s of age, he’s decided to waste no time and jump straight into the pro game, following his light heavyweight brother Karol Itauma (9-0, 7 KOs) by signing with Warren.

Karol, 22, is also highly rated as a rising prospect, although Moses grabbed headlines after emerging from the junior amateur ranks with a rare unbeaten record of 24-0.

At the World Youth and European Youth Championships, he won all of his fights by knockout en route to the gold medals.

Itauma has only ever had one amateur contest close enough to be a split decision and that was when he was just 11 years old.

“It’s exciting for me because Frank Warren has been on the tour for many years and he’s the man for the job,” the 18-year-old said of his new contract. “It’s going to be good and it’s an exciting time. .

“For me, it’s now about accelerating quickly, really.

“I never really got into boxing to win world titles, I literally kept going to the gym because we were like a little family at St Mary’s ABC. It was just a lot of fun, and then I started winning national titles.

Itauma has fought some of the biggest names in British heavyweight boxing before and gained some good experience in the process.

“About two years ago, I felt that the amateur game wasn’t really for me and I started to pull through,” he explained.

“I don’t think I’m special, but I realized I was good at boxing probably when I started fighting Lawrence Okolie when I was 14/15 and getting by.

“I was fighting Joe Joyce, Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua then and I was still hanging on, otherwise I was getting the best of it.

“When I was fighting Joyce and Okolie, I was wearing my school uniform coming straight from school and yawning.”

Frank Warren said of the signing: “The burgeoning British heavyweight division now has a new player and this one is going straight to the top.

“For very obvious reasons Moses was a sought after young man and I am delighted he chose Queensberry to guide and promote his career.

“We are the ones with a proven track record of taking young fighters to major titles and Moses is going to be in good company with our other elite prospects who are already progressing through the professional ranks.

“Moses is an exceptional talent who will further light up the heavyweight scene in this country and around the world.

“Moses possesses the ability to be a great heavyweight and I’m sure the nation will support him and support his crusade to become a record breaking world champion.”

Itauma will be managed by CSM, the management group recently founded by Frank’s son, Francis Warren.

Francis Warren added: “The future of heavyweight boxing is in good hands with Moses, who is destined to become a world champion and dominate the scene for many years to come.

“It’s the bold plan that he laid out himself and it’s up to us to carry it out outside the ring.

“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Moses to the management company I have formed to care for the interests of the growing group of extremely talented young fighters I have the privilege of representing.”