MOSES ITAUMA stamped his most frightening authority on the heavyweight division yet after brutally knocking out Jermaine Franklin.
And now the million dollar question is, what is next for the 21-year-old prodigy?
It will be hard to find anyone in the division willing to risk their health and reputation by putting themselves in there with Itauma.
But here, SunSport attempts to take a wild but educated guess on what or who could be next.
Filip Hrgovic
In the days leading up to the fight, expert pundits including those on SunSport’s excellent No Glove Lost panel named Hrgovic as the perfect next fight.
And Itauma himself said the Croatian was top of his hit-list – until Hrgovic signed to face Dave Allen in a May 16 stadium bout at Doncaster.
It is only two months away, meaning if Hrgovic prevails not too scathed, Itauma could delay his planned July comeback to get his ideal opponent.
Hrgovic has been beaten only once – a 2024 stoppage in round eight to Daniel Dubois – signalling another step up for Itauma.
Daniel Dubois/Fabio Wardley
On May 9, the two British heavyweights meet in a brilliant bout for Wardley’s WBO title, which Itauma is due to be next in line for.
Wardley does train with Itauma, making things slightly awkward with the two having to skirt around the dilemma.
But Frank Warren, Itauma’s promoter, and his son Francis, who manages the KO machine, have talked up the friends-turned-foe fight.
And if Dubois beats Wardley, it lays up the perfect world title clash for Itauma, who again would delay his return for that opportunity.
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Jared Anderson/Solomon Dacres
When Warren announced a co-promotional deal with Top Rank for Jared Anderson – immediately he was seen as an option for Itauma.
But he first returns on the May 9 bill in Manchester against Dacres – who himself would be a fun domestic fight for Itauma.
Although the real money would be in a meeting between Itauma and 26-year-old Anderson – seen as America’s last heavyweight hope.
Warren said: “Who knows if he can get back in the mix, it’d be a great fight to do in the States.”
David Adeleye
If Warren is looking for a fun domestic fight – Adeleye is without an opponent following his loss last August to Hrgovic.
His trainer Adam Booth was probed on the potential match-up and refused to rule it out.
He said on talkSPORT: “If David Adeleye came to me and said, ‘I’ve accepted the Itauma fight, I’ve accepted the money.’
“I’d say, ‘OK, let’s get ready.’ And I’d start to look at the habits. If he was happy with the money, I’d say take it.”
Oleksandr Usyk
The Ukrainian WBC, WBA and IBF champ has already said Itauma is too young for him to fight.
But having had to vacate his WBO belt after opting out of facing Wardley, pressure could mount for Usyk to fight Itauma or else lose his WBA title.
And with just two bouts remaining in his career, after taking on kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in Egypt on May 23, Usyk could accept the passing-of-the-torch bout.
Promoter Warren said: “Do you not think we’d sell Wembley out with Moses and five or six times over? Right this minute. And the pay-per-view, the viewing figures would go through the roof.”
