Moses Itauma’s camp is already setting its sights on a world heavyweight championship, with his trainer Ben Davison insisting that the young fighter wants the belt "as soon as possible." The 21‑year‑old prospect has already demonstrated a rapid rise through the ranks, stringing together two dominant performances that have convinced his team he is ready for the sport’s elite level. In his most recent outings, Itauma dispatched former title challenger Dillian Whyte in a single, explosive round, and followed that up by overwhelming Jermaine Franklin in less than five rounds. Those victories, both achieved with decisive stoppages, have left his trainers convinced that the boxer has the skill set and confidence required to compete with the best heavyweights on the planet. "The objective now is to get him a world title as quickly as we can," Davison told Sky Sports.
"I can’t go into too much detail because the negotiations are handled by Queensberry Promotions, Frank Warren, and George Warren, but that’s the target we’re aiming for." Itauma’s ambition is not just a vague desire; he has publicly stated that he wants to become a world champion before he turns 22. Davison echoed that sentiment, noting that his fighter is in a favorable position with several sanctioning bodies and that a title opportunity could arise if a current champion vacates the belt or agrees to a fight. At this stage in his professional career, Itauma has compiled a record of 14 fights, winning 12 of them before the final bell.
His rapid progression has sparked a discussion within his team about the balance between risk and reward when selecting future opponents. "Match‑making with Moses is always a calculation of risk versus reward," Davison explained. "Experience will naturally accumulate as he continues, but we’ve already seen enough in the gym and in the ring to know he can handle longer bouts when necessary." The trainer did not shy away from the idea of throwing Itauma into a title fight against a seasoned contender such as Agit Kabayel for the WBC heavyweight crown.
"He’s at the point where the risk is worth the potential reward. If a world title is on the line, we’re all in," Davison said, indicating a willingness to test the young boxer against established champions.
One possible complication in Itauma’s path to a world belt involves the WBO heavyweight title, currently held by his gym‑mate Fabio Wardley. Wardley is scheduled to face Daniel Dubois on May 9, and should he retain the belt, the WBO could name Itauma as the mandatory challenger. However, Davison believes that scenario is unlikely to derail his plans.
He noted that if Wardley wins, the unified champion Oleksandr Usyk has expressed interest in fighting Wardley, which could prompt Wardley to vacate the WBO title in favor of a unification bout. "If Fabio wins, Usyk has said he wants to fight him, and a mandatory defense could be set aside for a unification fight.
In that case, the belt would probably be vacated, removing any obstacle for Moses," Davison explained. "So I don’t see the mandatory challenger issue becoming a real problem." Beyond the immediate title chase, the broader boxing landscape for 2026 promises a packed schedule of high‑profile fights, with streaming platforms like NOW offering contract‑free access to major events.
Fans can also keep up with weekly boxing analysis on the Toe2Toe podcast and enjoy curated highlight reels. In summary, Moses Itauma’s trajectory is marked by swift, decisive victories and a clear, ambitious goal: to capture a world heavyweight championship before his 22nd birthday. His team, led by Ben Davison, believes the fighter has already proven his ability to finish fights early, but also possesses the stamina and technical foundation to endure longer, more demanding battles.
While potential mandatory obligations with the WBO could arise, strategic negotiations and possible vacating of titles by other champions are expected to keep the path open for Itauma’s rapid ascent to the top of the heavyweight division.