Rising star Moses Itauma set to return to the ring in July
After blasting through Jermaine Franklin in just five rounds, just last month in March, unbeaten prospect Moses Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) now has his next fight date set for his return to action.
The Chatham heavyweight will headline at London’s O2 arena on July 25 with his opponent yet to be confirmed.
It will be the 21-year-old’s first appearance since he became the first man to stop Michigan native Jermaine Franklin. Both Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte previously went the 12-round distance with the durable Franklin, but Itauma was the first person to ever to inflict a stoppage on the American in 27 bouts.
That victory saw the WBO announce Itauma as the mandatory challenger for their heavyweight world title.
WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley defends that title against Daniel Dubois on May 9.
WBO and WBA #1 Itauma won’t necessarily fight the winner in his next bout, as the victor will push for their right to challenge unified titlist Oleksandr Usyk.
However, if the southpaw from Kent passes his next test, which will inevitably be one further up from the likes of Franklin, then he will be in the frame for a world title challenge.
Wardley and Itauma are gym-mates and so a title clash with Dubois would appeal more to the Kent man.
Moses previously told Sky Sports: “If Fabio wins then it’ll be sticky but if Dubois wins, then that fight makes sense.
Both Wardley and Dubois were both sat ringside for Itauma’s devastating victory over Franklin.
“I don’t think they’re worried. I think they’re both like ‘Oh! This guy’s in my division,'” Itauma said.
“I think deep inside they probably both had the same reaction. I think Fabio managed to, I guess, hide it a bit better.”
In terms of the next opponent, it will have to be a well-known, respected name worthy of headlining a 20,000 seater arena. Franklin was brought over to give the young heavyweight rounds, the next opponent will be potentially his last test before a world title fight.
British heavyweight champion Richard Riakporhe (20-1, 16 KOs) would make for an ideal dancing partner, as he has the Lonsdale belt in his possession, the title every young amateur from the UK dreams of winning. He has lost just once at world level against WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith, winning five rounds on two of the cards, and has since won his last three fights by knockout within five rounds and less.
Potential Moses Itauma opponents
Murat Gassiev WBA Regular champion
Jarrell Miller vs Lenier Pero winner
Filip Hrgovic vs Dave Allen winner
Richard Torrez Jr. vs Frank Sanchez winner
Nelson Hysa WBA #3
Arslanbek Makhmudov WBA #5
Zhilei Zhang WBO #5
Bakhodir Jalolov IBF #7
Jared Anderson vs Solomon Dacres winner
Agit Kabayel WBC Interim champion
Joseph Parker Former WBO champion
Efe Ajagba IBF #14
Things you didn’t know about Moses Itauma