Promoter Frank Warren has suggested Anthony Joshua take on Moses Itauma next.
2026 should be much more intriguing from a fan perspective, with a long-awaited clash against Tyson Fury being lined up for September. Both men will likely fight in the first half of the year to prepare, and talk now turns to who they will face.
Though Itauma is now technically an option because he and Joshua no longer share the same trainer in Ben Davison, the two-time unified champion is unlikely to risk his plans against such a young, dangerous operator.
That’s certainly what George Groves believes would be happening. The former super middleweight world champion told Bet Victor Casino he sees an Itauma win inside the distance.
“I don’t at all buy into Joshua coming back and winning the world title one day, like a proper world title, and neither do I think Fury can do either, unless the division’s just finished. Usyk’s the man, and then there’s a few coming through like Moses Itauma. If you put Moses Itauma in with Joshua, I think Moses stops him, that’s where we’re at.”
Groves instead believes that Joshua should move straight into facing Fury, advising both men to skip their tune-ups.
“Fury probably now wants a warm-up fight because Joshua technically had one against Paul, and because of the timing, Joshua will have one as well. But I think it loses momentum for the fight. Because who can they fight?
“You don’t need to set up this fight with stellar performances, they should get it on now. Fight in the summer, again in December next year, and then if it’s 1-1, they can have a third one. I wouldn’t be chasing a warm-up fight. No one’s gonna have the same excitement. Can we just get stuck in with his fight?”
Itauma takes on former Joshua foe Jermaine Franklin on January 21. As he builds towards a world title shot, it may be unlikely that he will cross paths with any of the heavyweight division’s old guard before they retire.
