Billy Joe Saunders has hailed the speed and versatility of a rising star who he views as the “best I’ve seen” since Muhammad Ali.

Many would regard Ali as the greatest heavyweight of all time, or at least place him in the same conversation as Joe Louis and Lennox Lewis, for instance.

From a technical standpoint, there are very few that have successfully replicated his footwork and rhythm, let alone showcased such attributes at the highest level.

Ali, however, was able to impose his skills and athleticism against the likes of George Foreman and Joe Frazier, among several other top-level heavyweights.

It should therefore come as a bold statement that Saunders, a former two-weight world champion, has named Moses Itauma as the best heavyweight since Ali.

While ‘The Greatest’ went on to put his Hall of Fame status beyond any reasonable doubt, unbeaten prodigy Itauma is still yet to even compete at world level.

That said, the 21-year-old will bid to become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson when he faces Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF title on August 29.

Speaking with talkSPORT, Saunders said he already believes Itauma is head and shoulders above any active heavyweight, including WBO champion Daniel Dubois.

“People might think I’m crazy … I think he’s the best I’ve seen since Muhammad Ali. It’s a big statement.

“He has got that back foot, front foot [ability] … he’s got that slip-counter that he throws. He’s the only heavyweight I know that can lean off, throw a lead uppercut and finish with two or three shots in a split second.”

Coming off a fifth-round finish over fringe contender Jermaine Franklin in March, Itauma is now approaching his toughest assignment thus far against Hrgovic.