Moses Itauma is one of the boxers looking to have a huge 2026 and he has now been called out by one of his countrymen.
Itauma has fought just 13 times, but across those contests, he has announced himself as one of the hottest prospects in world boxing.
All of them he has won, 11 of them impressively early and within the first two rounds, but arguably his best victory to date was a two minute demolition of former world title challenger Dillian Whyte back in August.
Next up, he takes on Jermaine Franklin, a tough American who has taken both Anthony Joshua and Whyte the distance when he came over to fight them on UK shores.
That fight takes place in January and marks another step up for Itauma, who has been branded a future world champion by both Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in the past.
After that, he could be in line to face Murat Gassiev, the WBA Regular champion who recently stopped Kubrat Pulev.
However, the WBC have now ordered former cruiserweight and bridgerweight world champion Lawrence Okolie and Itauma to fight, and Okolie is keen to oblige as he told ESPN.
“We’re looking forward to the future. I’m wishing Moses Itauma luck in his fight against Franklin and then after that we’ve been mandated to box for the final eliminator for the world title. Two Nigerians getting it on. It’s going to be amazing.”
Should Itauma come through, the tall frame, long reach and big punching of Okolie would present another big step up in his quest for a world title belt while still just 20-years-old.
