Moses Itauma will fight twice more this year according to promoter Frank Warren, who has big plans for the young heavyweight.
Itauma knocked out Jermaine Franklin in a statement win back in March, further boosting his reputation as boxing’s hottest prospect and a champion-in-waiting. Post-fight, Warren said the plan is to fight again in the summer and to capture a world title before the end of the year.
It has since been revealed that the Brit will headline the O2 Arena for the first time on Saturday August 8. The fight – against an as yet unnamed opponent – was pushed back due to a date clash with Anthony Joshua, but will not stop Itauma getting out for a third time if all goes to plan.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Warren revealed that Itauma’s third outing of 2026 will be a debut in the United States, in either November or December.
“What I am looking forward to doing this year, and it will happen this year, we will bring him to the [United] States. November/December, we will bring him out. Whatever it is, it will have to be a big fight because he will be making his announcement in person.”
In a seperate interview with TalkSPORT, the Hall of Fame promoter confirmed the world title goal is still alive.
“Moses is gonna fight for the world title this year. Who it’s against, I don’t know yet, but that’s what he’s going to do. By the end of the year he will be facing a world champion.”
Talk now turns to opponents, with Warren saying that the August fight will be announced officially within the next two weeks.
WBA Regular champion Murat Gassiev has been linked to the showdown, and indeed called for it, and presents a clear run at a world title, particularly if Oleksandr Usyk vacates or is stripped of the super belt.
Should that work out for Itauma in August, he would become the second youngest heavyweight world ruler of all time, taking Floyd Patterson’s place behind Mike Tyson’s long-standing record.
New York’s Jarrell Miller is currently the WBA #2 and mandatory challenger, so could be in a good position to then be the opponent for Itauma’s final bout of 2026 in the US.
There are, however, plenty of options for Itauma, who is ranked number one with the WBO and WBA, five with the IBF and three with the WBC.
The WBO are expected to call the young Brit as mandatory challenger this year, meaning he will be ordered to face the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, which takes place this weekend in Manchester.