MOSES Itauma is set to return to the ring on November 2 in Birmingham before ‘a big step-up’ on December 21 in Riyadh.
The 19-year-old is currently 10-0 (8) and has not put a foot wrong in his professional career so far.
He took out the usually durable Mariusz Wach inside two rounds in his last outing, at the o2 Arena in July, adding to his burgeoning reputation as the future of the heavyweight division.
Now he is expected to feature on the card at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on November 2 which is topped by Liam Davies against Itauma’s stable mate Shabaz Masoud.
In July, Itauma told Boxing News that he sent his team a five-man hitlist of opponents he wants to fight next which consisted of Tom Schwarz, Tony Yoka, Demsey McKean, Guido Vianello and Simon Kean.
However, he says none of those heavyweights will be in the opposite corner in Birmingham, with his manager Francis Warren hitting a brick wall in his bid to step Itauma up.
Itauma said: “I should be out on November 2 on the Liam Davies card in Birmingham.
“They’ve sent a few names, there aren’t any of the names on my list. I want to fight them but Francis says none of them want to fight me – and why would they? They’ve got no reason to.”
However, should Itauma come through unscathed he looks set to bank a place on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi – and there will be more money in the pot for an opponent.
It is understood that names like Joe Joyce are under consideration for that date, although the desired fight with Joseph Parker will not be until next year.
Itauma said: “If all goes well in Birmingham I’ll be on the December 21 card too, so two more fights this year.
“The one in December, we’re looking for a big step-up. That will take me to 12-0, God willing. I wanted it to be 16-0 by this point but that’s still a lot.”
