Huge opportunity for Moses Itauma: The 20-year-old is to fight regular WBA champion Kubrat Pulev for the title.
Up-and-coming British heavyweight Moses Itauma is facing his biggest test yet: the World Boxing Association (WBA) has ordered the 20-year-old to fight for the “regular” heavyweight title against the experienced Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev. The WBA gave both camps 30 days to reach an agreement. If no agreement is reached by November 14, the fight will be auctioned off as part of a purse bid.
Itauma, who originally wanted to step into the ring on Derek Chisora’s fight card on December 13, could now postpone his next appearance in order to have sufficient preparation time for the title duel. With a victory over Pulev (44), who has already fought Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko for the world championship, Itauma could not only secure the WBA belt, but also a duel against undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Previously, several top heavyweights – including Filip Hrgovic and Jermaine Franklin – had turned down a duel with Itauma. The young Brit had also turned down an IBF eliminator offer against Frank Sánchez in order to focus on the WBA circuit. For Itauma, the fight against Pulev would be the first big step towards the top of the world – and at the same time a cross-generational duel between an up-and-coming talent and one of the most experienced heavyweights of the last decade.
Text by Robin Josten