•Governor Eno (R) in handshake with Moses Itauma
ANIETIE USEN, Uyo reporting
Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, yesterday, Friday, September 5, 2025, in London, received Akwa Ibom-born World Boxing Organisation, WBO, Interim Heavyweight Champion and the number one contender for the WBO heavyweight title, Moses Itauma, alongside the Mayor of Islington, United Kingdom, Mr. Utitofon Jackson.
At 20 years of age, Itauma, a born boxer, is a knockout specialist and the highest-ranked boxer of his age in the world since the legendary Mike Tyson.
•Governor Eno and Utitofon Jackson
At the same time, Utitofon Jackson, made history as the first African-born Mayor of Islington, one of London’s most vibrant boroughs. His leadership has placed him at the forefront of community development, diaspora engagement, and youth empowerment in the UK.
Utitifon who made waves at the age of six as a child preacher in Nigeria, before migrating to the UK, was elected mayor in May this year. The story of his childhood evangelism that brought him to limelight at home is documented in a book, “How I Became a Minister at Six”, published in 1993 and listed on Google Books.
Governor Eno encouraged both Itauma and Jackson to remain connected to their roots and to contribute to building a greater Akwa Ibom State. He emphasised that Akwa Ibom’s diaspora community remains an invaluable partner in the state’s development, particularly in areas of sports, youth development, and international collaboration.
“The meeting highlighted the rising global profile of Akwa Ibom indigenes and underscored the governor’s commitment to harnessing the strength of the diaspora for the state’s growth”, a statement attributed to the government said.
Standing at 6 feet, four and half inches tall, Itauma made his debut on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Anthony Yarde on January 28, 2023, at the Wembley Arena. He beat Marcel Bode in his debut via knockout after just 23 seconds in the ring.
Itauma won the vacant WBO Intercontinental heavyweight title with a second-round stoppage victory against Germany’s Ilja Mezencev on the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk bill in Saudi Arabia on May 18, 2024.
He retained his title with another second-round stoppage win, this time over Polish boxer Mariusz Wach at The O2 Arena, London, on July 27, 2024. In his next bout, he stopped Demsey McKean in the first round on December 21, 2024, at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the undercard for the heavyweight world title rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.
Born on December 28, 2004, to a Nigerian father, Dr. Charles Itauma, and a Slovikian mother, Moses Itauma is considered one of the most promising young talents in boxing globally, with a perfect professional record of 13-0, with 11 knockouts.
Itauma knocked out fellow countryman Mike Balogun in the beginning of round two of their fight at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on May 24, 2025.
On August 16, 2025, he defeated Dillian Whyte by first round stoppage at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Moses isn’t the only boxer in the family. He’s the younger brother of light-heavyweight fighter Karol Itauma, suggesting that boxing talent runs deep in the family.
This sibling connection indicates that their parents have been instrumental in supporting both sons’ boxing ambitions.
Asked at the ringside of his son’s fight recently by British journalists whether his wife or him is responsible for Moses’ meteoric rise in the boxing profession, Dr. Itauma answered jocularly: “It’s a joint venture”.
