Bradford boxer in London to face "best except Fury and AJ"

That is how highly Garber rates teenage sensation Moses Itauma, with the 19-year-old currently 7-0 in his professional career, having already fought at Wembley twice and in Saudi Arabia once.

Tomorrow’s bout at York Hall, in Bethnal Green, almost didn’t happen, with Garber explaining: “I’ve taken it at five days’ notice, so I’ve just got to get stuck into it.

“After I fought and knocked out Joe (Nakavulevu) at the start of February, Moses’ team offered me this fight with him at six weeks’ notice.

“The figure wasn’t enough for someone of his calibre and was less than I got for taking on Tom Carty in Dublin in November last year.

Dan Garber (left) shares an embrace with Tom Carty after being stopped by the Irishman in the eight and final round of their heavyweight bout last November. (Image: PA.)

“We left it, and I was happy enough, because I’ve been offered a fight on Sky Sports with the Boxxer series in May anyway.

“But taking this fight with Moses makes no difference to that bout, and his team came back to me a few days ago, because the Visa for his European opponent this weekend fell through.

“I turned down their initial offer, but then they gave me one I couldn’t refuse, which was basically a year’s working wage for one fight.

“I won’t see it again, the kind of money I’m getting for this bout.”

But the Bradfordian feels as if he has earned it, saying: “This will be the third time in the last four fights that I’ve taken on an unbeaten opponent.

“I managed to go nearly the whole eight rounds with Tom in Dublin too, and it’s great because there’s no pressure on me against Moses.

“No-one else in Britain wants to fight him, certainly not at less than a week’s notice like me.

“But I’m coming into this off the back of knocking out Joe and in heavyweight boxing you never know, one punch, one shot from me, could be enough to beat Moses.”

Garber knows full well he is the massive underdog in London tomorrow night, and waxed lyrical about Itauma’s ability and potential.

He said: “They’ll still be mentioning Moses’ name in 20 years, even if he’s long retired by then.

“I think, even now at 19, he’s the best heavyweight in the country except Fury and AJ.

Moses Itauma stalks off after knocking out Amine Boucetta at Wembley in the opening round of their bout last September. (Image: PA.)

“He’s fought at Wembley and in Saudi Arabia already and that’s what I want too going forward in my career.

“Moses actually has another fight coming up in Saudi Arabia in mid-May, which his original opponent pulled out of.

“We said to his team we’d happily step in for that one in Riyadh at eight or nine weeks’ notice, but he’s now got that lined up as his first title fight instead, which is fair enough.

“His team have played me a bit, but I’ve now got that contract from them I couldn’t refuse, and the fight with him this week can only enhance my reputation.”