‘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 month, losing a bruising heavyweight world title battle to Filip Hrgović.
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. It’s a cautionary tale many can learn from, claims Peters.
With Olaniyan being a potential future rival of the Brit and a fighter many say can be fast-tracked, his team were interested observers of the clash.
They took notes and took note of the outcome. Indeed, 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 the Sunday after that high-profile battle.
“Nothing about Moses, what a fighter Moses was, but you know, he should have changed his game plan,” Peters said when speaking to Irish-boxing.com.
“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.”
