Fabio Wardley: What next for heavyweights Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua, Moses Itauma and Tyson Fury
Rising star Moses Itauma is England’s next great heavyweight prospect; however, the 20-year-old has yet to complete his next competition.
Itauma further enhanced his reputation by stopping Dillian Whyte in the first round in August, extending his perfect record to 13 wins with 11 knockouts.
Following this spectacular win, Itauma was linked with matches against Filip Hrgovic, Michael Hunter and domestic rival David Adeleye.
Team Itauma was considering a fight in December and Derek Chisora suggested he would share a card with Itauma in Manchester on December 13th.
But that date is now in doubt for the Chatham heavyweight, who learned boxing politics the hard way.
WBA ‘regular’ champion Kubrat Pulev has been instructed to defend his belt against Itauma on October 14, but the 44-year-old has announced plans to fight Russian Murat Gassiev on December 12.
The WBA order means both parties have 30 days to negotiate a deal.
Queensberry’s Frank Warren, who promotes Itauma, told BBC Sport that “Pulev should face Musa next with London and Manchester as possible host cities.”
It has also been suggested that Itauma is a potential rival for undisputed champion Usyk, but the Ukrainian played down those rumors earlier this month.
As for Chisora, he appeared on stage at the O2 Arena alongside British heavyweight Whyte and American Jarrell Miller ahead of Wardley’s win over Parker.
Speaking of potential fights and when asked if we could see Chisora and Whyte meet for a third time, Chisora said “yes, if the contract is right” and added that it would “100% happen in December”.
