Can Moses Itauma Become Britain's Next Heavyweight Superstar?

At just 21, Moses Itauma is already being spoken about as one of the most exciting young heavyweights in boxing. But with comparisons to Britain's heavyweight greats beginning to emerge, the pressure surrounding his rise is growing.

Throughout boxing history, there have only been a handful of British heavyweight stars who have truly captured the imagination of the public and stood out from the rest. One of the first major names was Henry Cooper, who was beloved by British fans for his courage and ferocious fighting style.

Cooper's popularity began when he represented Great Britain at the 1952 Olympic Games. Although he did not win a medal, this was the beginning of the journey for one of British boxing's most beloved heroes.

As a professional, he became British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight champion, with fans across the country believing he could eventually become heavyweight champion of the world.

His most famous fight was his first bout against Muhammad Ali, who was then known as Cassius Clay. Their first meeting was competitive and littered with controversy.

Cooper famously dropped Ali at the end of the fourth round, before the American recovered and stopped him in the fifth. The pair would eventually meet in a rematch, with Ali then in his prime and settling the score with Cooper for good.

Although Cooper never won world honours, he remained beloved by the British public and was seen as humble and straightforward. His popularity stretched far beyond boxing, with Cooper winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year twice, in 1967 and 1970.

The next standout British heavyweight was Frank Bruno, who was renowned for his enormous punching power, physique and charismatic personality. During his career, Bruno challenged for the heavyweight world title four times.

His first title fight came against Tim Witherspoon and was competitive until the later rounds, when Bruno was stopped in the 11th. His second world title opportunity came against a 22-year-old 'Iron' Mike Tyson. Although British fans were optimistic, the fight only went one way, with Bruno stopped in the fifth round.

He later faced Lennox Lewis in an all-British world title fight, with much of the British public firmly behind Bruno after years of connecting with his personality. Bruno produced a competitive performance before Lewis eventually stopped him in the seventh round, leaving many wondering whether it was the end of the road for the fan favourite.

Fans also loved Bruno's resilience. He never gave up on his ambitions and, in his fourth world title opportunity, his dream finally came true when he defeated Oliver McCall at Wembley in 1995.

It was the mountaintop for Bruno and a moment that cemented his place in British boxing history, with fans continuing to show their love for him long after his career came to an end.

In the modern era, Britain has enjoyed far more success in the heavyweight division, particularly with prospects coming through the amateur system. The likes of Audley Harrison and David Price carried significant expectations, while Derek 'Del Boy' Chisora became a hugely popular figure during his long professional career.

Although each achieved varying levels of success, none went on to become heavyweight world champion. Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury would eventually take British heavyweight boxing to another level and play a crucial role in the sport's boom across the country.

Joshua regularly sold out Wembley Stadium, the Principality Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, bringing some of boxing's biggest fights to this side of the Atlantic. He also had huge amateur success, winning Olympic gold in London in 2012 before becoming a two-time heavyweight champion of the world as a professional.

Fury, on the other hand, has built much of his popularity through his outspoken personality and ability to sell a fight. Many of the biggest moments of his career have come outside the UK, but he has also headlined sell-out events at some of Britain's biggest venues.

Both men have also benefited from their long-running rivalry, with fans continually asking whether the long-awaited all-British showdown will finally happen. The pair have taken British heavyweight boxing to heights it had rarely seen before and have helped create another generation of fans.

Moses Itauma will now look to replicate the success these British heavyweight stars achieved both inside and outside the ring.

The 21-year-old already possesses many of the ingredients needed to become a major attraction. His fight-changing power and blinding speed have helped him stand out from other young heavyweights, while his rapid rise through the professional ranks has created huge expectations at such an early stage of his career.

However, becoming Britain's next heavyweight superstar requires more than simply winning fights.

Cooper became a national hero despite never capturing a world title. Bruno's personality and determination created a connection with the British public that remains decades after his retirement. Joshua turned Olympic success into stadium-filling superstardom, while Fury's personality and achievements have made him one of the most recognisable British fighters of his generation.

Itauma is still at the beginning of his journey and has plenty to prove before comparisons with those names can truly be justified. But if he continues to develop, steps up against elite opposition and eventually challenges for world honours, he has the opportunity to become the next major figure in Britain's long heavyweight history.

The talent is clearly there. The bigger question is whether Itauma can build the same connection with the British public as the heavyweight greats who came before him and become Britain's next heavyweight superstar.