Sports
Moses Itauma offered immediate title shot: “Are you ready to step up?”
Moses Itauma is deemed by many to be the future of the heavyweight division, but the Kent-based youngster could be set for a title challenge sooner than expected after being offered an immediate shot at a belt.
Itauma sticks out as the hottest prospect in boxing’s glamour division, with the 21-year-old southpaw dominating in each and every of his 13 professional contests and fighting beyond the second round only twice during his career thus far.
Next month, Itauma takes on potentially his toughest test to date, as he seeks to do what Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua couldn’t and stop Jermaine Franklin Jr – a durable but competitive American who seeks to capitalise on another chance in the spotlight.
Should Itauma come through that bout unscathed, it now seems as though a title shot will be waiting for him. Al Siesta, who co-promotes Murat Gassiev, informed Sky Sports that the Russian ‘would welcome’ a clash with Ituama next, following his WBA (Regular) heavyweight title win against Kubrat Pulev.
“There was, of course, an order by the WBA for Moses Itauma to face the winner of Pulev vs Gassiev – with a lot of talk from our friends at Queensberry Promotions – but since Gassiev’s destructive performance, it all seems to have gone quiet. Now, there is talk of Itauma vs Lawrence Okolie.
“For me, this is no coincidence. They would have jumped at the chance to face a 44-year-old Kubrat Pulev, but a prime, heavy-hitter like Murat Gassiev? I know the game and I can see why Frank Warren would not want to put his ‘Golden Boy’ in with Murat. We take it as a compliment!
“However, if Itauma is ready to step up and face a real challenge, we would welcome him for Murat’s first defence. It would be a spectacular fight. Murat will face anyone and has the power to knock out any heavyweight in the world.
“We can do that fight anywhere: Moscow, Dubai, London or the moon! Murat is a world champion, a man of the people, and is willing to showcase his ability to a global audience.”
It is expected that Gassiev, or the eventual holder of the WBA (Regular) title, will secure either a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk or the full WBA world title (if Usyk vacates it) during 2026.
