Boxing May 13, 2026

Moses Itauma now looking to win heavyweight world championship 'as soon as possible'

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Moses Itauma now looking to win heavyweight world championship 'as soon as possible'

Moses Itauma will look to win a world heavyweight title "as soon as possible," his trainer Ben Davison says.

Itauma has already moved quickly for a precocious 21-year-old heavyweight prospect. In his last two fights Itauma has blasted through Dillian Whyte, the former world title challenger, in just one round and most recently ruthlessly dispatched Jermaine Franklin inside five rounds.

For Itauma's training team that is enough to satisfy them that he is now ready for the highest level of competition in the heavyweight division.

"I think the goal now is to get him a world champion as soon as possible. I think that's the goal that we're looking at," his trainer Ben Davison told Your Site.

"I can't say too much because it's Queensberry Promotions' job, Frank Warren's job, George Warren, but I think that's the goal."

Itauma is looking to pick up that silverware before the end of this year. "He wants to be a world champion before he's 22," Davison said.

"He's in a very positive position with a number of the organisations, the sanctioning bodies, so it might be a case of someone might have to vacate or fight."

Itauma is early in his pro career. He's only had 14 professional bouts and won 12 of those inside the distance.

"It's just risk versus reward with matchmaking with Moses," Davison said. "Experience will come along the way. We've tried with opponents to get rounds and I think we're at the point now where we've seen enough.

"I've seen enough in the gym, I've seen enough in the fights where if these guys aren't capable of doing the rounds, it is what it is."

Davison wouldn't hesitate to put Itauma in with Agit Kabayel for a WBC title. "He's at that level now where it's risk versus reward, so if there's a world title on the line I think we're all in," the trainer said.

His route could become complicated by being made the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight title. That belt is held by Itauma's gymmate, Fabio Wardley.

Wardley will fight Daniel Dubois on May 9. If he prevails, Davison still doesn't anticipate Itauma having to fight Wardley.

"We have to be realistic. If Fabio wins, [unified champion Oleksandr] Usyk's come out and said he would fight Fabio. If the WBO called a mandatory the reality is Fabio would probably vacate that belt to get the Usyk fight," the trainer said. "Equally a unification should override even a mandatory defence.

"So I can't see that situation being an issue to be honest."

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