LAST month, it was revealed that Derek Chisora and Moses Itauma would appear on separate fights on a card in Manchester on Saturday, December 13.
Itauma, 13-0 (11 KOs), is the hottest prospect in the heavyweight division, with the 20-year-old continuing to blast through opponents with each of his last eight contests within two rounds.
Two of those last four bouts have come against veteran former world title challengers Mariusz Wach and Dillian Whyte. Now, a title challenge for Itauma may not be far away.
It was recently reported that the Slovakia-born southpaw pulled out of an IBF eliminator against Frank Sanchez. This morning (Oct 15) it was revealed by respected boxing journalist Dan Rafael that Itauma had instead been ordered to face WBA (Regular) titleholder Kubrat Pulev, 32-3 (14 KOs), but the likelihood is it will take place in January, rather than in December.
“BREAKING: Per WBA ruling I’ve obtained, Michael Hunter out as mandatory for “regular” heavyweight titlist Kubrat Pulev, who’s now ordered to face leading contender: Moses Itauma. They have 30 days to make a deal or [the contest will go to a] purse bid. Likely pushes Itauma next fight into Jan.”
As Rafael states, it did seem as though it would be Hunter who would face Pulev, with the victor possibly earning a shot at Oleksandr Usyk, but more likely being upgraded to world champion if Usyk vacates his WBA title.
Hunter was unable to proceed with a clash against Jarrell Miller on the Canelo-Crawford bill last month, but his withdrawal from this challenge for the WBA (Regular) has opened the door for Itauma, who is ranked as the WBA’s #1 contender.
In his way stands 44-year-old, two-time title challenger Pulev, who fell short in stoppage defeats to Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 and Anthony Joshua back in 2020.
