Rising boxing star Moses Itauma has opened up following a lecture from Tyson Fury for using the word ‘bums’ to describe opponents.

It is a word Fury himself has used regularly over the years to describe those he considers inferior to him.

Yet it appears Fury isn’t keen on others adopting one of his favourite catchphrases.

Itauma is set to spar with Fury in the coming months while the Briton prepares for his lucrative showdown with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.

Boxing news: Moses Itauma is one of the sport’s rising stars

And the 18-year-old, speaking to Boxing News Online, has now shed light on their discussion.

Fury had warned Itauma to tread carefully, insisting the youngster can learn something from each and every one of his opponents.

However, the teenager isn’t so sure.

He said: “Do you know what thought, there are bums.

“Because what I meant when I said I don’t want to fight bums is that I don’t want a first round knockout job because I don’t overcome anything to do that.

“I want situations where I go in there and it’s not a 90-10 fight in my favour.

“I want to go in a 60-40, then a 50-50 and then fights where people think I’m the underdog.”

When asked about his upcoming sparring sessions with Fury, Itauma also didn’t sound overly enthusiastic.

“It’s just sparring. How can I be excited for sparring?” he said calmly.

“I guess I’m excited about the opportunity and experience but it’s still just sparring.”

For many, the chance to spar with Fury would be a dream.

The current heavyweight champion is, after all, one of the best boxers on the planet – and has been for a number of years.

Yet while Itauma respects Fury’s achievements, he believes the Gypsy King is ‘beatable’ – because the right opponent hasn’t come forward yet.

“How do you know that?” he said.

“How do you know there isn’t someone in Czechoslavdagestan that’s better than him but just isn’t on the scene?

“So yeah. Tell me, how do you know he’s No 1?”

He continued: “I don’t know man, I don’t know.

“Obviously based on what we are aware of he is the number one but every person has a boogie man and so Tyson is defeatable, he just hasn’t met that person yet.

“Look, I’m not saying sparring won’t be good because it will be.

“He’s the only one of the big names in Britain I haven’t sparred yet but at the end of the day these are all just people.

Boxing news: Moses Itauma was lectured by Tyson Fury for using the word ‘bums’

“I’m not saying they’re just your normal average person but they are just people at the end of the day – they’ve got two arms, two legs and a brain.

“It’s not going to be anything I haven’t seen before.”