Promoter Frank Warren says Oleksandr Usyk will have to fight #1-ranked WBA and #1 WBO contender Moses Itauma or vacate the belts. He was asked for his reaction to the undisputed heavyweight champion Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) saying he won’t fight Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs).
Sanctioning Bodies Closing In
Warren points out that if the WBA or WBO orders the fight, Usyk will have to choose between defending against Itauma or giving up one of the titles.
Itauma’s Fast-Track Rise
It doesn’t look like the 20-year-old Itauma will lose to anyone anytime soon, especially with the careful manner in which he’s being matched. He’s not being thrown in with any of the killers, like Frank Sanchez, where he could get exposed. So, it’s only a matter of time before Usyk, 38, is forced to defend against Itauma or vacate.
“Well, Moses is #1 in two of the governing bodies. And if they call for that, he’ll have to think about that one,” said promoter Frank Warren to BoxNation, reacting to undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk saying he won’t fight Moses Itauma.
It’s going to make Usyk look weak if he vacates one of his titles to avoid the 20-year-old Itauma. He’ll need to give that some thought before he makes the choice. For Warren, it would look better if he had Itauma tested first against Frank Sanchez before maneuvering him into a title fight against Usyk.
Testing the “Hype Job” Theory
Given Moses Itauma’s weak resume, both in the amateurs and the pros, he looks like a classic example of an artificially maneuvered fighter. He hasn’t been given any real tests to justify his being moved to #1. Fighters like Sanchez, Richard Torrez Jr., and Filip Hrgovic would be the ideal opponents for Itauma to show that he’s not a fake hype job.
Vacate or Validate
“If they call for one of those fights, Moses keeps winning, and stays where he’s at, then he’ll [Usyk] have to fight him or he’ll have to vacate the belt,” said Warren about Usym being put in a position where he’ll have no choice but to defend against Itauma or give up his WBA or WBO titles.
“Everything that’s been asked of him, he’s done. Oleksandr is a great fighter, and he has four belts. He’ll do what he feels he wants to do, right? Good luck to him,” said Warren.
Usyk’s Fading Options
If Usyk is serious about staying in the game for another three years until he’s 41, he’ll have no choice but to fight Moses Itauma. He’s quickly running out of marketable options for fights that will keep bringing in the money he’s been making recently. These are what’s left for Usyk to make mega-millions:
- Tyson Fury – trilogy
- Moses Itauma
- Fabio Wardley
- Joseph Parker
- Anthony Joshua – trilogy
- Jai Opetaia
- David Benavidez
Last Updated on 10/23/2025
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