Rising Star Leo Atang Shares Anthony Joshua's Wisdom and Addresses Moses Itauma Comparisons

MATCHROOM’S next great heavyweight hope Leo Atang steps back into the ring this weekend ready to show he’s the future of the division and perhaps, one day, will fill Anthony Joshua’s void.

The Derby-born knockout artist, who only turned 19 on Wednesday, is currently 3-0 with three stoppages to his name. None of his fights have made it out of the first round.

Leo Atang weighed in a solid 236lbs for his fourth professional fightCredit: Getty Atang has had three fights thus far and none of them have gone beyond the first roundCredit: Getty The pair met for the first time ahead of Atang’s debut in July 2025

is, of course, a two-time heavyweight world champion who has spent his entire career with Matchroom.

Atang told Sun Sport ahead of his bout on the undercard of Josh Kelly’s world title challenge that seeing what Hearn has done with Joshua helped persuade him to sign with him.

He said: “It was quite an easy decision going with Eddie, you know, he gave us the best deal, but it was also not about that.

“As a promoter, you can see the job he’s done to all the players and I wanted a bit of that myself.”

Many exciting teenage fighters choose to compete for Olympic gold before heading into the professional ranks.

Atang won gold in both European and World youth championships before turning pro, but the Olympics was not meant to be.

“I was [thinking about the Olympics], I entered the nationals at 18 and no one entered, and I got onto but I was too young to box for them so it was like I was just stuck.

“I thought there’s no point, let’s just go for it [turning pro].”

Last summer ahead of his debut bout, for the first time and his stablemate gave him some sage advice.

He said: “Just generally just to enjoy it all. It’s just going to go so fast. Like I mean it feels like yesterday was my debut and it’s already half a year away, so like just enjoy it all, it’s going to go fast and embrace every moment.”

While Atang admires and respects those that have come before him, he’s focused on making his own name and showing the world what he is capable of.

“I’m here to make my own, my own way through it all, do my own thing and, create my own legacy.”

Of course, Queensberry have their own fledging heavyweight superstar in , another wonderkid who made his debut at 18-years-old.

Now 21, he is 13-0 with 11 knockouts to his name and on the cusp of world title contention.

Moses Itauma has wasted little time storming the heavyweight rankingsCredit: Getty

Atang understands there will be comparisons between the two and is excited to put the work in and get to the level where the pair can have a what would surely be a lucrative domestic dust-up.

“Oh, of course there will be comparisons, but he’s doing his thing. He’s up there now.

“I’ve got to do my thing, I’ve got to earn that place to get up there, so I’ve got a lot of work to do, but you know, down the line it’ll be a great fight.”

AJ and Tyson Fury are undoutedly the two biggest heavyweight stars to come out of the UK in several generations but have never faced each other.

Hopes they might finally rectify that are now in the balance after AJ tragically lost in a car crash in Nigeria last month in which he was also injured

Perhaps Itauma and Atang are the next dynamic duo; we can only hope we won’t have to wait so long to see them fight over the sport’s top prizes.