Moses Itauma is making a big noise in boxing’s heavyweight rankings right now, and we can add the WBC to the list.
The World Boxing Council has chosen the British prodigy (13-0 with 11 wins inside distance) to face fellow British star Lawrence Okolie (22-1 with 16 KOs) in a final eliminator.
The 20-year-old Itauma, who is seen as the best heavyweight prospect since Mike Tyson back in the 1980s, already has his next fight scheduled – a showdown vs durable American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester on January 24. After that though the world is his oyster.
Itauma vs Okolie, will it happen?
Okolie’s traner Joe Gallagher reacted with surprise that a final eliminator with his man had been chosen by the WBC, and he also doubts it will happen.
He told Sky Sports: “I petitioned for him to be made mandatory [challenger]. Kabayel’s having a fight in January, Usyk they’re allowing a voluntary [defence]. AJ ranked No 3 and Dubois No 2 weren’t available to fight at the moment so they made Lawrence and Moses as a final eliminator, which was a surprise.
“Whether it happens or not, I’m not sure. I doubt it. But Lawrence is here to fight everyone and anyone so that’s where we are.”
As Gallagher pointed out, the WBC already has a champion and an interim king. Oleksandr Usyk (24-0) rules the division right now and has said he wants to fight American Deontay Wilder in a voluntary defence in 2026.
Interim champion and mandatory contender, Germany’s Agit Kabayel (26-0) meanwhile is due to fight giant Pole Damian Knyba in Oberhausen on January 10.
Moses Itauma, ranked
As well as being ranked number 4 by the WBC, Itauma is also prominent in the latest rankings with other sanctioning bodies. He is #1 with the World Boxing Organization, where Fabio Wardley is the new champion after Usyk vacated the belt.
The IBF (International Boxing Federation) has Itauma at #14 in its latest set of rankings, while the World Boxing Association (WBA) ranks him at #1, with only super champion Usyk and champion Kubrat Pulev above him.
