Moses Itauma Poised to Become Mandatory Challenger for WBO Heavyweight Title

Moses Itauma is on the verge of becoming the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight championship, potentially setting him up for a future showdown with his stablemate, Fabio Wardley. Itauma's impressive fifth-round victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night, which took his record to 14-0 with 12 knockouts, has further solidified his position as a rising star in the division. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri has announced that Itauma will be formally recommended for a shot at the organization's heavyweight belt. With Wardley set to defend the title against Daniel Dubois on May 9, Itauma's potential challenge could lead to an intriguing situation, particularly given their shared trainer, Ben Davison. Itauma has expressed his belief that Wardley can defeat Dubois, which could result in a complicated scenario for the young contender. Itauma has also spoken about his desire to face Oleksandr Usyk, but acknowledges that such a fight is unlikely to happen soon. Similarly, a potential bout with Tyson Fury seems distant, as Fury is focused on his upcoming fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov and has other lucrative options available.