Moses Itauma believes he’s unlikely to struggle once more earlier than the top of the 12 months.
The rising heavyweight star is coming off a breakthrough efficiency when he knocked out Dillian Whyte of their first spherical in August.
Itauma had been seeking to maintain that momentum going and field once more in December, however now expects his subsequent struggle to happen within the early a part of 2026.
“I wanted to box December 13 but I think that got kind of anointed to Dillian Whyte versus [Derek] Chisora. So I feel like it’s going to be something end of Jan, end of Feb. So we’ll see,” Itauma instructed Sky Sports activities Information.
It means he’ll solely have boxed twice this 12 months and, along with his propensity for knocking out his opponents, that is been scarcely three rounds of motion in 2025.
Waiting for subsequent 12 months, Itauma stated: “You can set yourself goals and you’ll never be able to achieve it only because it’s never in your hands. My goals are to knock everybody that they put in front of me out. But apart from that, I can’t really do much.”
A complication for plotting Itauma’s subsequent transfer has been the scenario of the WBA ‘common’ heavyweight title, their secondary belt.
Itauma had been mandated as the subsequent challenger for the WBA ‘common’ belt held by Kubrat Pulev, however the Bulgarian has since introduced a struggle with Murat Gassiev in December.
Itauma’s promoter Frank Warren stated: “We’ve got to see what happens with this Pulev situation because the WBA ordered that fight and he can’t get out of it. We’ll see where we go.
“They’re speaking about they wish to go to Dubai for this Gassiev struggle however the WBA has not sanctioned that struggle, to my data. How are you going to sanction a struggle should you’re placing one other one out? So we’re the place we’re.”
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British boxing legend Lennox Lewis believes Moses Itauma will not be able to problem for world titles and may wait till Oleksandr Usyk retires earlier than stepping up
Wardley a ‘actual Rocky story’
Itauma’s gym-mate Fabio Wardley seized the heavyweight limelight over the weekend along with his stoppage victory over Joseph Parker.
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Highlights of Joseph Parker’s heavyweight conflict with Fabio Wardley at The O2 area. (Credit score: DAZN)
Itauma recommended Wardley’s exhibiting. “He’s just beat a guy who’s got a whole amateur pedigree, has fought all these names and Fabio’s just come there with a couple of unlicenced fights and now could be potentially boxing for the heavyweight championship of the world. It’s not a mockery of the sport, it’s more a real Rocky story,” Itauma instructed Sky Sports activities Information.
“If he does fight [Usyk] I would back him all the way but it’s a difficult ask. He’s in the same gym as me so I’m never going to hate on him.
“He is accomplished it himself, however he has positively overachieved within the sport. So something that he does any longer is all the time going to be only a bonus.”
