Moses Itauma is set to become the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight title – potentially putting him on a collision course with stablemate Fabio Wardley.
Itauma, 21, produced another emphatic result on Saturday night, handing a first stoppage defeat to Jermaine Franklin as he recorded a fifth-round victory in Manchester, taking his record to 14-0 with 12 of those wins achieved via knockout.
WBO president Gustavo Olivieri posted on social media platform X that after Itauma “further affirmed his standing within the division as a rising star” the Brit would be “formally recommended” for a shot at the organisation’s heavyweight belt.
When I first turned professional, I thought I would win titles but I didn’t think it would be so soon. I’m just a young boy chasing a dream.
Wardley – who shares trainer Ben Davison with Itauma – will defend that championship against Daniel Dubois on May 9, so if he wins it could lead to a “sticky predicament”, according to Itauma.
The up-and-comer said before knocking out Franklin: “I think Fabio can [beat Dubois]. Fabio keeps surprising everyone. If you write him off he’ll end up smashing Dubois out.
“You don’t really know what to expect from Fabio but I’d probably say Fabio wins.
“He’s obviously in the same gym as me so that would be a sticky predicament. Everything can make sense, it all makes sense.”
Itauma’s record is now 14-0, with 12 wins coming via knockout
Speaking late last year, before he was promoted to full WBO champion following Oleksandr Usyk vacating the title, Wardley told Sky Sports about a potential showdown with Itauma: “Who knows how the future’s going to go?
“Right now me and Moses are on our own courses. We both need to grab our world titles first, before we’re able to have conversations about crossing swords ourselves.
“There’s enough out there for the pair of us to have a go at and just occupy ourselves before we need to start having a serious think about getting in the ring at the same time.”
Itauma wants Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury – but expects to be made to wait
Itauma wants Fury and Usyk – but expects to have to wait
In the build-up to his fight with Franklin, Itauma told Sky Sports he would “love” a crack at Usyk – but that he does not expect that to happen any time soon.
He feels the same regarding a blockbuster bout with Tyson Fury, who will return to the ring in April to take on Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“Why would Usyk fight me?” said Itauma. “Obviously he’s got other people on the agenda. Not only that he’s got a whole list of people that, I guess, are in front of me.
“I don’t think Tyson would want to take [a fight]. I don’t know. For example, he’s got a big fight with Anthony Joshua, a fight can still gross massively.
“He knows there are a lot of other fights he probably would be able to make more money off and they wouldn’t be as much of a fight. It doesn’t really make sense for him.”
Usyk and Fury may be a way off, then, but Dubois or Wardley seemingly not.