Moses Itauma vs. Mike Balogun Official for May 24 in Glasgow

Glasgow, Scotland - Heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma will make his long-awaited return to the ring on May 24, squaring off against tough American Mike Balogun at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow. The 20-year-old British southpaw, widely considered one of boxing’s most promising future champions, brings his perfect 11-0 (9 KOs) record into this next step in his development—one that pits raw talent and pedigree against rugged experience and grit.

The fight will be part of a DAZN-broadcast card headlined by Josh Taylor vs. Ekow Essuman, offering fans in Scotland and around the world a look at two very different stages of boxing careers in the co-feature.

Itauma last fought on December 21 in Riyadh, where he dismantled Demsey McKean in just over two minutes. That performance only reinforced the hype surrounding the Chatham-born powerhouse, who turned professional with the lofty ambition of becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history. However, by taking this fight on May 24—five days past the cutoff needed to beat Mike Tyson’s longstanding record—those plans have officially been shelved.

But if you think that means Itauma is easing off the gas, think again.

His opponent, Mike Balogun 21-1 (16 KOs), is a former NFL linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers who transitioned to boxing in 2014. A fellow southpaw, Balogun comes into the contest with size, toughness, and a respectable record, albeit against a relatively modest level of opposition. His lone defeat came at the hands of Murat Gassiev in March 2023—a second-round knockout that exposed his defensive vulnerabilities against elite firepower.

Balogun rebounded with a points win over journeyman Lamont Capers, but the gap in activity and class between him and Itauma is difficult to ignore. While Balogun brings the kind of resume that looks solid on paper, the reality is that he is a massive underdog heading into this contest.

Physically, Balogun is a strong, durable presence with decent athleticism and heart—but Itauma is a different breed. With blazing hand speed, ring IQ well beyond his years, and concussive southpaw power, the young Brit is expected to control the fight from the outset.

Yet, despite being outgunned in nearly every category, Balogun represents a potentially valuable learning experience for Itauma. He is a strong, awkward lefty who may try to rough up the youngster and force some ugly moments. Whether that will be enough to survive beyond a few rounds is another matter entirely.

For Itauma, this is about momentum. He missed out on an earlier April return but now lands on a major card in Glasgow with eyes from both sides of the Atlantic watching. A win—particularly another knockout—will push him to 12-0 with 10 KOs and keep him firmly in the queue for a title eliminator within the next 12-18 months.

If all goes according to plan, it won’t be long before Moses Itauma trades development fights for dangerous ones—against ranked contenders with everything on the line. For now, Mike Balogun is the next hurdle. And given Itauma’s trajectory, it’s one he’s expected to clear with authority.