Fast-forward to the final quarter of 2025, and the Briton has truly left his mark on the division, recording three brutal knockouts in just four rounds to cement contender status.

But as Queensberry Promotions boss Frank Warren laid out earlier this month, the soaring stock of his prized prodigy has not come without roadblocks thrown into his path.

From rapid knockouts reducing banked rounds, the relentless pressure of a hungry media and expectant public, and with rivals reluctant to commit, Itauma is at a crossroads.

There's seemingly no question that he is destined for the top of the division - but just how will he get there with these matters at hand? DAZN News considers his future path.

Vital rounds reduced by speedy blows

The stats fall over themselves when it comes to measuring Itauma's talents in the modern era so far, even if his critics like to suggest he has not faced enough top opponents.

That misses the point, of course - at still just 20 years old, Queensberry and Warren were never going to throw him in with the sharks and see if he could swim alongside them.

But with a swift progression through the lower ranks, Itauma has done more than cut his teeth on smaller fish - he has devoured them wholesale and often in a single bite too.

Across thirteen professional bouts, he has banked only 26 rounds - an average of two per contest. Those are incredible figures, but they also speak to his lack of serious ring time.

Itauma and his team will argue that countless hours and days spent between the ropes in training matter here, that he will have clocked as many miles as he can with the pads.

Yet there's no escaping the fact that he has yet to go past six rounds at all in his professional career. It speaks to his instincts, but still leaves an unknown to be tested by tougher foes.

Spotlight prepares to go supersonic

Itauma's composure for his age remains remarkable, with an interior knowledge and appreciation for his craft that speaks volumes to how hard he has studied his boxing skills.

But even with pundits and powerbrokers hyping his name, the star hadn't really broken out until he flattened Dillian Whyte inside one round this August, in spectacular fashion.

Now, he is ranked in the top five by all sanctioning bodies and seems on course to deliver on his promise - but such success comes with the added weight of fan expectations.

Plenty still believe Itauma is yet to truly earn his stripes despite a showstopper reel any heavyweight would be proud of, and they may grow louder depending on his next bout.

Additionally, despite banking a handful of stadium fights overseas on Riyadh Season undercards, Itauma is yet to topline in the United Kingdom, or fight at a stadium here too.

Many a great fighter over the years has wobbled as they close in on the peak, unable to handle the pressure. Itauma will need his baptism to prove he can weather the fire.

Rivals unwilling to risk it all

Another side-effect of Itauma's reputation as a knockout king seems more apparent than ever since he sank Whyte - namely, in finding him the right opponent for the right price.

The latter may have been aging out of his peak years, but the way he was dispatched has got plenty of other top operators seemingly shaken on their own prospects instead.

Warren has suggested that several have swerved a bout altogether as he seeks Itauma's next opponent, or have priced themselves out, determined for a major payday at least.

While the Briton's camp has repeatedly said that they would be ready to move for a title shot, his promoters clearly want him to gather more experience and build up his audience.

That comes with the caveat that there might not be many opponents left who could push Itauma into deep waters for a reasonable fee, presenting Queensberry with a problem.

A few remain in talks, but if there are stars ultimately unwilling to become another stepping stone, then the star could find himself at the summit sooner rather than later.

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