‘Watch out’ – Peters makes Muhammad Ali comparison as heavyweight hopeful Adam Olaniyan takes lessons from Itauma defeat
Brian Peters was already thinking about the lessons Adam Olaniyan could take from Moses Itauma’s defeat before most of the boxing world had even woken up.
Itauma suffered the first defeat of his professional career earlier this week, losing a bruising heavyweight world title battle to Filip Hrgović, and Peters believes there was plenty for the next generation of Irish heavyweights to learn from the contest.
The bout was meant to be the coronation of the new British heavyweight king but the crown was instead placed on the head of the Croatian.
As a potential future rival of the Brit, team Olaniyan were interested observers of the clash and so keen was the Tallaght fighter’s manager to share the learnings from the clash with the prospect, he rang him as early as 6am on Sunday.
“Nothing about Moses, what a fighter Moses was, but you know, he should have changed his game plan,” Peters said.
“I was on to Adam at 6:00 Sunday morning talking about what we can learn from these other fighters. I thought it was a great fight.
“Obviously, Moses [is a] devastating puncher. I just thought after four or five rounds, maybe [he] should start thinking about adjusting.
“He was blowing heavy in the corner. Loading up on all the shots. You know, he kind of beat himself.”
For the man behind the scenes of Katie Taylor’s career, the key lesson was simple: sometimes raw ability and punching power are not enough at the highest level.
“Stick and move. Change,” he explained. “You’re not getting rid of this guy, Hrgović.
“So just adapt and change and really have a Plan B or Plan C.”
It is advice Peters wants the 20-year-old, who made it four knockouts from four fights at Croke Park last weekend, to absorb as the young Irish heavyweight continues his own development.
Peters has huge expectations for the Jobstown BC graduate, comparing his potential to one of boxing’s greatest ever names.
“We had Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America had a young fellow called Muhammad Ali,” Peters said.
“Jobstown, Dublin, Republic of Ireland has a young man called Adam Olaniyan.
“Watch out.”
